TiiHllin! 


iiiliiJiiiliiiiiiliiii 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  WILMER  COLLECTION 

OF  CIVIL  WAR  NOVELS 

PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2010  witii  funding  from 

University  of  Nortii  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/sweetrevengeromaOOmitc 


SWEET     REVENGE 


B  IRomance  ot  tbe  Civil  TKlar 


F.    A.    MITCHEL 

CAPTAIN    AND    AIDE-DE-CAMP   ON    THE    STAFF   OF 
MAJOR-GENEUAL    O.  M.  MITCHEL 

AUTHOR  OP  "  CHATTANOOGA  "   "  CHICKAMAUGA  "  ETC. 


NEW     YORK 
HARPER   &   BROTHERS   PUBLISHERS 

1897 


Copyright,  1897,  by  Harper  &  Brothers. 

All  riglits  reserved. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

I.  Bushwhacked 1 

II.  Incognito 13 

III.  A  Definite  Object 21 

IV.  Won  Over 33 

V.  Arrest 44 

VI.  An  Amatecr  Soubrette 59 

VII.   IMlDNIGHT 72 

VIII.  On  THE  Plateau 83 

IX.  Fiends 93 

X.  A  Dance  for  a  Life  ....;...  102 

XI.  Stealing  the  Guns Ill 

XII.  A  Daylight  Attack 121 

XIII.  Beleaguered 131 

XIV.  A  Bonfire  Defence 139 

XV.  Woman's  Pluck 148 

XVI.  A  Bugle-call 161 

XVII.  Flight    ...  175 

XVIII.  Retaken 184 

XIX.  Buck's  Indiscretion 194 

XX.  A  Masquerade 203 

XXI.  A  Stern-chase 214 

XXII.  Hunting  Big  Game.     ........  225 

XXIII.  The  Union  Saved 238 


603141 


SWEET    REVENGE 


BUSHWHACKED 


"  Hands  up !" 

Why  he  shouted  the  words  I  don't  know; 
for  in  another  moment  he  gave  me  one  barrel, 
and  before  I  could  raise  a  finger  I  heard  a 
click,  admonishing  me  that  I  was  about  to  get 
the  other.  A  thin  film  of  smoke  floating 
above  the  fence  to  the  right  and  two  malig- 
nant eyes  peering  at  me  from  between  the 
rails  betrayed  his  position.  Like  a  flash  I 
whipped  out  my  revolver,  but  before  I  could 
raise  it  there  was  another  report,  and  my 
right  arm  dropped,  benumbed  by  a  charge  of 
buckshot.  Seizing  my  weapon  with  my  left 
hand,  I  brought  it  to  a  level  with  the  eyes 
behind  the  fence  and  fired.    There  was  a  sound 


a  SWEET    REVENGE 

of  a  body  falling,  and  I  knew  that  I  had  struck 
home. 

Spurring  my  horse  to  the  side  of  the  road,  I 
craned  my  neck  over  the  fence,  and  there  in 
the  ditch  lay  the  bushwhacker.  His  hat  had 
fallen  off,  and  left  bare  a  head  of  red,  shocky 
hair.  In  his  belt  was  his  revolver,  beside  him 
a  shot-gun.  His  body,  clad  in  "^  butternut,"  lay 
on  an  incline,  his  feet  in  the  water,  which 
flowed  lazily  past.  The  sun,  shining  through 
budding  branches,  lighted  up  his  face,  and  I 
knew  that  I  had  seen  him  before;  indeed,  a 
vivid  scene  in  which  he  had  borne  a  part  came 
up  out  of  the  past  to  fling  over  me  a  cloud  of 
gloom,  like  the  wing  of  an  Apollyon. 

I  drew  an  involuntary  sigh.  It  was  not 
that  I  had  taken  a  life  —  lives  were  cheap 
enough  in  those  days,  and  he  had  sought  to 
take  mine ;  it  was  not  my  narrow  escape  from 
death ;  but  an  overpowering  consciousness  that 
the  spirit  of  war  lurked  everywhere ;  that  the 
beautiful  face  of  Nature  about  me  —  trees, 
fences,  bushes,  everything  —  best  served  to 
cover  assassins. 

"  Is  he  dead  ?" 

Startled  at  the  sound  of  a  voice,  I  glanced 
aside.     There,  leaning  against  the  fence,  her 


iMOt 


BUSHWHACKED  3 

arras  resting  on  the  top  rail,  gazing  at  the 
disao'reeable  sis-ht  on  which  I  had  been  in- 
tent,  stood  a  young  girl. 

"Where  did  you  come  from?"  I  asked,  lift- 
ing my  hat  with  my  left  hand. 

"  There."  She  turned  her  head  and  glanced 
at  a  house  on  the  other  side  of  the  road. 

"  You  must  have  stepped  lightly ;  I  didn't 
hear  you  coming." 

Without  reply  she  continued  gazing  at  the 
body  of  the  bushwhacker.  I  too  looked  again  at 
the  upturned  face,  with  its  glassy,  staring  eyes. 

"  Why  did  you  kill  him  f 

"  I  will  tell  you." 

But  I  did  not  tell  her  then,  for  as  I  spoke  I 
felt  something  warm  trickling  over  the  baqk 
of  ray  hand,  and,  looking  down,  saw  blood  drip- 
ping upon  her  dress. 

"  Corae  into  the  house,  quick j  that's  arterial 
blood." 

Seizing  the  reins,  she  led  ray  horse,  I  follow- 
ing, to  a  side  gate.  This  she  opened,  and  we 
went  up  to  the  veranda.  Catching  sight  of  a 
colored  bov,  she  called  to  him  : 

"Mount,  5'?^iWi;/y,  and  ride  for  the  doctor! 
Tell  him  a  man  has  been  shot,  an  artery  cut, 
and  a  life  is  in  danirer." 


4  SWEET    REVENGE 

I  had  a  dim  image  of  the  boy  tearing  down 
the  road,  and,  tottering  into  the  house,  I  sat 
down  on  a  sofa  in  the  library.  I  must  have 
fainted,  for  suddenly,  without  being  conscious 
of  their  coming,  I  found  myself  in  the  midst  of 
an  excited  throng.  An  old  lady  stood  beside 
me  with  a  basin,  from  which  she  was  sprinkling 
my  face.  A  white-haired  old  gentleman  with 
pink  cheeks,  a  towel  in  one  hand,  a  decanter  in 
the  other,  was  bending  over  me.  A  boy  of 
twelve  with  a  toy  gun  was  staring  at  me, 
while  the  girl  who  had  brought  me  there 
looked  on  with  far  more  interest  than  I  had 
yet  seen  in  her  impassive  face.  Beyond  all 
was  a  dark  background  of  house  servants. 
My  coat  had  been  removed,  and  a  negro  had  a 
tight  grip  on  a  bit  of  wood  twisted  in  a  hand- 
kerchief tied  around  my  arm  just  above  the 
wound.  A  long,  thin  man  in  a  rusty  suit  of 
black  came  hurrying  in  with  a  leather  case  in 
his  hand,  and,  whipping  out  his  instruments, 
began  the  work  of  picking  up  a  partly  severed 
artery.  He  first  took  out  a  piece  of  my  coat- 
sleeve,  which  had  retarded  the  hemorrhage  and 
doubtless  saved  my  life,  tiien  a  half-dozen  shot, 
did  some  stitching,  then  carefully  bandaged 
the  wound. 


BUSHWHACKED  5 

"  There,"  he  said,  "  if  you  move  that  arm 
within  forty-eight  hours  j^ou'll  be  in  danger  of 
3'^our  life ;  keep  quiet,  and  you'll  come  out  all 
right." 

"  I  must  go  on  at  once,  doctor." 

"  You'll  go  part  way  as  a  corpse  if  you  do." 

The  old  lady  declared  that  I  should  not  stir 
out  of  the  house  till  the  doctor  gave  the  word  ; 
the  old  gentleman  bade  me  welcome  as  long- 
as  I  needed  to  stay ;  the  young  lady  who  had 
brought  me  there  said  nothing;  while  the  boy 
looked  as  if  to  lose  a  subject  so  fruitful  of  in- 
terest would  break  his  heart. 

"  I'll  send  a  young  associate  of  mine,"  said 
the  doctor.  "  If  tlie  wound  opens  3'^ou  must 
have  attention  at  once." 

"  Thank  you,  doctor.  There  seems  to  be  a 
great  deal  of  commotion  about  a  very  small 
matter.  I  don't  care  to  put  so  many  people 
to  so  much  trouble." 

No  one  paid  any  attention  to  my  protest,  all 
busying  themselves  to  make  me  comfortable. 
Pillows  were  laid  beneath  my  head,  a  silk 
quilt  was  thrown  over  me,  a  stand  with  a 
silver  bell  on  it  was  placed  beside  me  that  I 
might  ring  for  anything  I  wanted.  All  be- 
ing satisfactorily  arranged,  the  doctor  ordered 


b     .  SWKET    REVENGE 

everybody  out  of  the  room,  and  then  departed 
himself. 

What  a  singular  transition !  Half  an  hour 
before  I  had  left  Iluntsville — beautiful  Hunts- 
ville,  nestling  among  the  hills  that  slope  away 
from  the  Cumberland  plateau — and  was  work- 
ing ray  way  northward,  towards  Fa3'etteville, 
Tennessee.  The  plants  in  the  yards  beside  the 
road  were  putting  forth  their  buds,  the  leaves 
on  the  trees  were  opening,  insects  were  awaken- 
ing, birds  singing — all  revived  by  the  rays  of 
the  vernal  sun. 

I  permitted  my  horse  to  drop  into  a  walk, 
A  pleasant  languor  stole  over  me,  replacing  a 
bitter  mental  turbulence  which  had  been  ever 
present  with  me  for  months.  Perhaps  it  was 
the  genial  warmth,  the  balmy  air  ;  perhaps  an 
absence  of  war  scenes  with  which  I  had  Ions: 
been  familiar;  perhaps  both.  At  any  rate, 
I  watched  the  sun  glisten  on  the  dew-drops, 
felt  its  rays  warm  my  shoulders,  and  listened 
to  the  singing  of  the  birds  with  a  consciousness 
that,  after  all,  sometimes  it  is  pleasant  to  live. 

Then  came  an  unaccountable  sinking.  It 
may  have  been  something  in  the  restfulness, 
the  security  I  had  felt,  incongruous  with  pesti- 
lent war;  just  as  amid  the  luxurious  foliage  of 


BUSHWHACKED  7 

the  tropics  one  feels  that  behind  every  leaf  and 
flower  lurks  invisible  fever.  Suddenly  the 
shots  rang  out ;  then  came  my  reply  to  the 
girl  standing  beside  me  looking  at  the  dead 
bushwhacker ;  then  my  entry  into  the  house ; 
and  now  I  was  lying  on  a  comfortable  lounge, 
an  object  of  tender  solicitude  on  the  part  of 
people  who,  from  being  strangers,  had  sud- 
denly become  very  dear  friends. 

But  suppose  they  knew  me — that  I  was  a 
renegade,  a  traitor  to  the  South.  There  was 
no  name  harsh  enough  among  Confederates 
for  those  of  their  own  people  who  were  not 
"with  them,  and  all  who  were  not  with  them 
were  against  them ;  and  doubtless  these  new- 
found friends  were  all  Confederate  sympa- 
thizers. The  bushwhacker  could  tell  no  tales ; 
I  was  thankful  for  that,  for  he  had  known  me 
"well.  The  thought  of  him  took  me  back  to 
that  night  of  horrors.  I  was  again  at  the 
head  of  those  Tennessee  Unionists,  endeavor- 
ing to  lead  them  to  a  haven  of  safety.  We 
were  near  the  Cumberland  Gap ;  one  more 
day  and  we  should  be  at  Camp  Dick  Robin- 
son, where  "we  should  find  Federal  troops. 
Then  the  attack.  By  the  flashing  of  guns  I 
could  see  their  faces,  and  here  and  there  recog- 


8  SWEET    REVENGE 

nize  a  neighbor — men  beside  whom  I  had  lived 
for  years,  and  whom  civil  war  had  converted 
into  fiends.  One  by  one  I  saw  my  friends 
shot  down.  There  was  one  dearer  to  me  than 
all  besides.  Through  the  darkness,  guided  by 
the  flashes  and  the  sound  of  my  voice,  sh^ 
darted  to  me,  and  found  refuge  in  my  arms. 

Then  that  sudden  dash  of  Confederate  cav- 
alry, I  felt  the  figure  I  held  quiver  and  slip 
through  my  arms.  I  moaned,  and  kissed  the 
white  lips.  Then  like  lightning  the  wild  beast 
jumped  within  me.  I  looked  up  to  see  who 
had  done  this  last,  this  crowning  atrocity.  A 
Confederate  officer  sat  on  his  horse  staring  at 
me,  in  his  hand  a  smoking  pistol.  A  sudden 
collapse,  and  I  knew  that  I  was  hit.  This  is 
all  I  remembered  of  the  massacre. 

Plow  I  gloated  in  my  revenge!  The  homes 
of  men  who  had  committed  those  murders 
were  burning,  and  I  had  applied  the  torch. 
Their  barns,  grain — everything  they  possessed 
passed  away  in  black  spark-spangled  clouds, 
which  shot  upward  as  if  to  carry  vengeance 
to  the  very  heavens.  These  men  had  made 
my  life  a  waste — I  had  made  theirs  a  hell. 

There  was  one  I  had  not  yet  punished,  one 
whose  punishment  I  longed  for  more  than  all 


BUSHWHACKED  9 

the  rest — the  Confederate  officer  with  the  smok- 
ing pistoL  I  sought  for  him  without  success. 
Then  I  tried  to  forget  him  ;  but  whenever  I  re- 
membered that  beloved  figure  fleeing  to  me  for 
protection,  that  tremor,  that  sinking  away  be- 
fore the  blight  of  death,  I  would  start  again 
on  my  long  hunt.  I  joined  the  army,  thinking 
that  war's  greater  horrors  might  for  a  time 
enable  me  to  forget  my  feud.  All  went  well 
till  I  heard  of  him.  He  was  at  Hunts ville.  I 
burned  to  reach  him.  Our  general  was  cast- 
ing covetous  eyes  on  Northern  Alabama.  I 
beo-wd  him  to  let  me  fi,o  down  and  brino-  back 
a  report  of  the  country — the  railroads,  its  roll- 
ing-stock, machine-shops,  bridges,  everything 
— a  knowledge  of  which  would  assist  in  its 
capture. 

But  this  low  cur  who  had  tried  to  kill  me. 
He  w\as  at  the  massacre.  With  my  own  hand 
I  had  applied  fire  to  his  miserable  hut.  How 
had  he  known  that  I  was  in  Alabama  ?  Had 
he  heard  of  me  during  my  stay  at  Huntsville  ? 
It  had  been  brief,  for  as  soon  as  I  reached  the 
town  I  learned  that  my  enem}'  was  not  there, 
and,  disappointed,  turned  my  face  northward. 
Or  had  the  bushwhacker  met  me  by  chance? 
I  did  not  know  ;  I  do  not  know  now.      Of  one 


10  SWEET    KEVENGE 

thing  I  was  certain  :  be  was  one  of  my  old 
enemies,  and  they  would  hunt  me  like  a  hare. 

I  lay  for  hours  unwillingly  turning  over 
these  war  horrors  as  if  they  were  a  wheel  on 
which  I  was  obliged  to  tread.  No  one  came 
into  the  room  and  I  called  no  one.  Doubtless 
they  wished  me  to  be  quiet.  I  was  weak  and 
tired — tired  in  mind,  tired  in  body,  tired  of  ex- 
istence. If  I  could  only  find  him  the  world 
might  vanish  for  all  me. 

I  fell  into  a  troubled  slumber,  and  when  I 
awoke  I  saw  standing  in  the  doorway  a  girl 
of  eight  or  nine  years — a  frail,  blue-eyed  little 
thing,  with  her  hair  cut  square  about  her  neck 
and  held  by  a  semicircular  comb.  She  was 
gazing  at  me  intently,  as  children  in  fairy  tales 
stand  on  tiptoe  and  look  at  the  sleeping  ogre 
who  is  intending  to  eat  them  for  supper. 

"Come  in,"  I  said,  encouragingly. 

She  shrank  back.  But  though  she  seemed 
to  dread  me,  she  could  not  keep  away  from 
me.  Without  for  a  moment  taking  her  eyes 
off  me  she  began  to  approach  by  slow,  very 
slow,  steps.  I  felt  as  if  I  were  a  snake  charm- 
ing a  bird. 

"  Don't  be  afraid  of  me,"  I  said  ;  "  I  won't 
hurt  you." 


BUSHWHACKED  11 

"You  killed  him.''  She  pointed  like  an  ac- 
cusing angel  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  road, 
where  I  had  left  the  body  of  my  would  -  be 
assassin.  Her  voice  was  soft,  but  her  e3^es 
were  big  with  the  enormity  of  my  act. 

"  Sweetheart,  don't  look  at  me  that  way ; 
come  and  kiss  me." 

I  reached  out  for  her  hand.  She  shrank 
away,  but  I  gently  pulled  her  to  me  Avith  my 
well  arm,  drew  her  down,  and  kissed  her.  As 
I  touched  her  pure  young  lips  with  mine  the 
crimes  of  which  I  had  been  thinkinir — vivid 
as  the  day  they  were  committed  —  seemed  to 
move  far  from  me,  like  a  retreating  storm 
muttering  in  the  distance.  And  somehow, 
with  this  bit  of  innocence  in  my  arm,  my 
beard  brushing  her  cheek,  looking  into  her 
mild  eyes,  it  seemed  as  if  there  had  come  a 
patch  of  blue  sky ;  and  I  wished — yes,  strange- 
ly^ enough,  I  wished — that  it  had  not  been  nec- 
essary for  me  to  shoot  a  man  that  morning. 


II 

INCOGNITO 

These  kind  people  with  whom  I  was  lodged 
persisted  in  considering  me  always  in  danger. 
A  doctor  must  needs  be  at  all  times  within 
reach.  A  stripling  of  a  medical  graduate 
must  sleep  in  the  same  room  with  me.  The 
old  gentleman  was  constantly  coming  into 
the  room  to  ask  if  I  wanted  anything,  while 
his  wife  was  as  tender  and  motherly  as  if  I 
had  been  her  own  son.  Even  the  servants 
vied  with  each  other  in  waiting  on  me,  and 
when  anything  was  ordered  for  me,  with  haste 
unusual  to  the  negro,  scrambled  to  see  which 
one  would  bring  it.  Onl}'-  the  girl  who  had 
brought  me  there  came  and  went  as  though 
I  was  an  ordinary  person  with  an  ordinary 
wound,  to  be  treated  in  an  ordinary  manner. 

All  this  attention  and  sympathy  vexed  me 
beyond  measure.  What  right  had  I  to  accept 
it  —  I,  a   Tennesseean,  in    arms    against    the 


INCOGNITO  13 

South,  in  search  of  a  Confederate  enemy  ? 
Yes,  and  more.  Was  I  not  the  bearer  of  in- 
formation that  would  enable  the  hated  Yan- 
kee to  swoop  down  on  this  fair  region  and  re- 
claim it  for  the  Union  ?  The  least  suspicion 
of  ray  true  character  would  turn  the  devotion 
lavished  upon  me  to  contempt.  My  very  life 
would  be  in  danger.  Pooh  !  what  cared  I  for 
my  life,  except  that  I  dreaded  to  go  to  ray 
long  home  detested  b}^  those  who  had  suc- 
cored me.  Besides,  the  information  I  pos- 
sessed— information  of  vital  importance  to  the 
Union  cause — must  be  carried  northward. 

A  crisis  carae  soon  enough.  It  was  evening, 
and  I  was  reclining  on  ray  sofa  looking  out 
upon  the  beautiful  hills  lying  to  the  eastward. 
The  girl  with  the  cool  head  and  impassive 
face  was  standing  by  a  table  rearranging 
books  and  bottles  and  what  not  which  had 
been  in  use  during  the  day.  Suddenly  the 
door  opened  and  ray  host  entered.  I  saw  at 
once  by  his  expression  that  something  had  oc- 
curred to  put  him  on  his  guard  ;  or  perhaps 
he  had  been  thinking,  wondering  what  kind  of 
person  he  was  harboring.  At  any  rate,  he 
came  up,  and,  drawing  a  chair  beside  rae,  began 
to  talk.     It  was  plain  that  he  wished  to  ask 


14  SWEET    REVENGE 

me  questions,  but  lie  was  too  kind,  too  gener- 
ous to  one  in  ray  condition,  too  hospitable,  to 
ask  them  directly. 

"  The  doctor  tells  me,  Mr. — "  he  began. 
"  Upon  my  word,  you  have  been  with  us  three 
days,  sir,  and  we  don't  know  even  your  name." 

"  Branderstane,  John  Branderstane.  I  am 
equally  ignorant  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for 
all  this  attention." 

"  Our  name  is  Stanforth,  sir.  This  is  my 
daughter  Helen,  Mr.  Branderstane." 

Helen  inclined  her  head  sliglitly,  and  I  raised 
mine  far  enough  from  the  pillows  to  do  the 
same. 

'•Mr.  Stanforth,"  I  said — there  was  grati- 
tude both  in  my  voice  and  in  my  eyes—"  who- 
ever bears  your  name  may  hereafter  call  upon 
me  for  any  service.  You  have  placed  me  un- 
der an  obligation  which — " 

"  Tut,  tut !  You  know  our  Southern  cus- 
toms— we  are  nothing  if  not  hospitable.  You 
are  a  Southern  man,  of  course?" 

"  Of  course."  I  spoke  the  words  hesitat- 
ingly. 

"  Your  state  ?" 

"  Tennessee." 

"  East,  middle,  or  west  ?" 


INCOGNITO  15 

"  East." 

Mr.  Stanforth  paused.  There  was  no  in- 
formation as  to  my  sentiments  in  the  fact  that 
I  hailed  from  East  Tennessee.  More  than 
two-thirds  of  the  people  of  that  section  were 
with  the  Union. 

"  May  I  ask,  sir,"  said  m}'^  host,  with  an  ev- 
ident intention  of  ending  all  doubt  in  regard 
to  the  side  with  which  I  affiliated,  "  are  you 
a  Union  or  a  Confederate  sympathizer?" 

I  was  about  to  declare  myself  an  ardent 
supporter  of  the  Confederacy  when  ray  little 
friend  Ethel,  who  had  visited  me  on  the  day  I 
was  shot,  appeared  in  the  doorway,  her  blue 
eyes  looking  straight  into  mine.  Had  my  in- 
tended falsehood  been  rammed  back  into  my 
throat  with  the  butt  of  a  revolver  it  could  not 
have  been  more  effectually  stopped.  Then 
something  impelled  me  to  turn  my  glance  to 
Helen.  She  was  about  to  pour  a  liquid  from 
a  phial  into  a  glass,  and  had  paused,  her  eyes 
fixed  on  me  intently. 

"  Mr.  Stanforth,"  I  said,  "  you  and  your  fam- 
ily have  been  too  kind  for  me  to  deceive  you. 
I  Avill  not  do  that,  but  it  would  not  serve  my 
purpose  to  declare  myself." 

"  You  are  an  honorable  man,  sir,  whoever 


16  SWEET   EEVENGE 

and  whatever  you  are !"  exclaimed  Mr.  Stan- 
forth,  warmly.  "  It  ma}"^  be  sometimes  neces- 
sary to  withhold  confidence ;  but  never  to  lie, 
sir.  Keep  your  secret,  I  shall  not  trouble  you 
for  it.  I  am  merely  a  citizen,  and  take  no  part 
in  the  national  dispute." 

"  But  I  do,  papa." 

I  looked  at  Helen.  She  was  regarding  me 
earnestly.  "  If  this  gentleman  is  with  us," 
she  said — "  us  of  the  South — he  need  not  fear  to 
declare  himself.    If  he  is  with  the  Yankees — " 

"  Helen !" 

There  was  an  uncomfortable  silence,  dur- 
ino^  which  Mr.  Stanforth  reo:arded  his  daughter 
sternly. 

"  If  there  is  one  right  in  the  South,"  he  said, 
"  sacred  above  all  others,  it  is  the  right  of  hos- 
pitality. Mr.  Branderstane  cannot  be  forced 
to  divulge  his  opinions." 

"  But  has  he  a  right  to  conceal  them,  papa  ?" 

"  While  our  guest,  he  has." 

"  Mr.  Stanforth,"  I  said,  "  j^our  daughter  is 
riirht.  l^o  man  should  remain  under  the  roof 
of  one  who  has  succored  him  without  reveal- 
ing his  identity  when  it  is  called  for.  May  I 
ask  you  to  order  my  horse  ?" 

I  started  up.      I  Avas   too  preoccupied   to 


INCOGNITO  17 

notice  the  stand  beside  me  covered  with  books, 
with  which  I  had  vainly  tried  to  alleviate  ray 
confinement,  and  struck  my  arm  at  the  very 
spot  where  I  had  been  wounded. 

A  shiver  passed  over  the  father,  the  daughter 
gave  an  involuntary  start.  My  coat,  which 
had  been  thrown  loosely  over  my  shoulder, 
had  become  disarranged,  exposing  the  arm, 
upon  which  every  eye  was  turned.  Both  Mr. 
Stanforth  and  Helen  bent  forward  intently. 
"We  were  congratulating  ourselves  that  no 
damage  had  been  done  when  on  the  white 
shirt-sleeve  appeared  a  spot  of  bright  red  blood. 

"  Jackson !  —  run  !  —  the  doctor !  —  quick  ! 
Tell  him  the  wound  has  opened." 

I  sank  back  on  the  sofa ;  Mr.  Stanforth  be- 
gan running  about  wildl}'- ;  Mrs.  Stanforth  en- 
tered in  wonder ;  the  servants  flocked  in  with 
open  eyes  and  mouths. 

"  Papa,  your  handkerchief." 

Helen  Stanforth  spoke  the  words  as  coolly 
as  if  she  had  been  an  experienced  surgeon. 
"With  her  father's  handkerchief  she  impro- 
vised a  tourniquet,  and  the  bleeding  stopped 
at  once. 

"  Now  see  here,"  said  the  doctor,  when  he 
had  arrived  and  repaired  the  damage,  "j^ou've 


18  SWEET    REVENGE 

had  a  close  call,  sir.  Perhaps  you'll  pay  some 
attention  hereafter  to  what  I  tell  you,  sir." 

"  Next  time,  doctor,"  I  said,  feebly,  "  let  me 
go.     My  life  is  of  little  moment  to  me." 

As  I  spoke,  Helen,  who  had  gone  out  of  the 
room  for  something,  returned. 

"  Ah,  Miss  Stanforth,"  said  the  doctor,  "  I 
will  leave  the  patient  in  your  care.  You  seem 
to  be  always  on  hand  when  he  needs  you,  and 
to  know  exactly  what  to  do.  Let  the  others 
keep  away." 

"  I  will  relieve  you,  doctor,"  she  said,  quietly. 

The  doctor  gathered  up  his  belongings  and 
left  the  room,  leaving  Helen  standing  looking 
at  me  with  a  certain  curious  earnestness  that  I 
could  not  interpret.  As  she  had  been  the  in- 
direct cause  of  my  mishap  I  naturally  expected 
she  would  refer  to  it,  perhaps  express  some  re- 
o^ret.  She  was  thinkins:  of  an  entirely  differ- 
ent  matter. 

"  Why  is  your  life  of  little  moment  to  you?" 
she  asked. 

"  You  overheard  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  You  have  a  right  to  require  me  to  disclose 
my  affiliations  in  the  great  struggle  in  which 
we  are  involved,  but  my  private  griefs — " 


INCOGNITO  19 

"  I  ask  your  pardon.''  There  was  no  regret 
expressed ;  it  was  simply  a  well-bred  way  of 
noticing  that  she  had  failed  to  elicit  the  infor- 
mation she  desired. 

"  I  should  have  got  on  well  enough,"  I  con- 
tinued, "  if  that  confounded  stand  had  not  been 
in  the  way.  I  believe  I  could  go  now  just  as 
well  as  not."  I  paused ;  I  was  very  weak. 
"May  I  ask  you  to  hand  me  that  glass 'f  I 
added,  looking  at  a  tumbler  containing  brandy. 

Without  noticing  the  proof  of  my  inability 
to  do  as  I  asserted,  she  handed  me  the  glass, 
and,  when  I  had  taken  a  swallow,  put  it  back 
on  the  table.  Her  coolness  was  beffinning  to 
irritate  me. 

"  I  have  a  mind  to  get  up  and  go  on,"  I  said. 
"  I  don't  believe  there  is  any  danger." 

"  What  did  the  doctor  say  ?" 

"  He  told  me  to  keep  quiet,  as  I  valued  my 
life." 

"  You  don't  value  your  life,  therefore  you 
will  get  up  and  go  on — in  other  words,  com- 
mit suicide." 

"  You  know  veiy  well  that  it  galls  me  to 
be  obliged  to  impose  upon  a  family  that  has 
loaded  me  with  kindness  without  declaring 
my  identity." 


20  SWEET    KEVENGE 

"  Then  why  not  declare  it  ?" 

"  Because  it  doesn't  suit  my  plans  to  do  so." 

I  w^as  acting  ungraciously,  recklessly,  and 
I  knew  it ;  but  I  was  in  no  condition  to  fence 
with  this  cool  creature. 

"  Shall  I  leave  you  ?"'  she  asked,  without 
appearing  at  all  offended. 

"  I  don't  need  your  attention." 

"  You  need  some  one's  attention.  I  will 
have  Jackson  sit  in  the  hall,  where  he  can 
hear  you  if  you  ring."  And  she  walked  out 
of  the  room. 


Ill 

A  DEFINITE  OBJECT 

"Will  this  unluck}^  wound  never  heal? 
Time  flies, and  I,  who  should  be  up  and  doing, 
am  caged  like  a  tiger  walking  back  and  forth 
within  the  limits  of  its  enclosure." 

This  was  my  complaint  as  I  paced  my  room 
one  morning  shortly  after  the  accidental  re- 
opening of  my  wound.  My  impatience  Avas 
not  without  cause.  I  had  gone  South,  as  I 
have  said,  with  two  objects  :  to  find  my  ene- 
my and  to  gather  information.  I  had  failed 
in  finding  my  enemy,  but  had  gained  a  com- 
plete knowledge  of  the  points  essential  to  the 
capture  of  North  Alabama,  and  was  carrying 
it  to  the  general  on  the  day  I  was  shot.  It 
had  occurred  to  me  before  setting  out  that, 
after  finishing  my  military  mission,  I  might 
still  wish  to  continue  my  search  for  my  en- 
emy. Besides,  there  were  other  contingencies, 
such  as  arrest  or  illness,  which  needed  to  be 


22  SWEET    REVENGE 

provided  for.  I  had,  therefore,  arranged  that 
the  general's  favorite  scout  should  be  at  Hunts- 
ville  on  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  April  to  re- 
ceive any  communication  I  might  find  it  nec- 
essary to  transmit.  If  I  were  prevented  from 
meeting  him  I  was  to  send  a  messenger,  and 
had  devised  a  code  of  signals  by  which  he 
might  be  recognized.  The  appointed  day  was 
drawing  near;  I  was  not  able  to  keep  my  ap- 
pointment, and  there  was  no  one  at  hand  to 
whom  I  could  intrust  the  message. 

I  chafed  till  I  had  exhausted  my  small  store 
of  strength,  then  threw  myself  on  my  couch. 
Little  Ethel  came  in,  and,  like  a  soft  ray 
of  sunlight  breakinrr  throiiirh  storm-clouds, 
turned  my  thoughts  into  gentler  channels. 
She  held  in  her  hand  a  bouquet  of  flowers 
which  it  was  easy  to  see  she  intended  for  me, 
but  needed  encouragement  to  offer.  I  final- 
ly induced  her  to  do  so,  and  to  admit  that 
she  had  been  out  a  long  while  looking  for 
them  for  me  especially.  I  tried  to  unloosen 
her  tongue,  to  induce  her  to  confide  in  me, 
but  in  spite  of  all  I  could  do  she  remained 
shy,  and  there  was  ever  present  that  awe  she 
had  shown  before  of  one  who  had  taken  a 
life. 


A    DEFINITE    OBJECT  23 

"  Why  do  3^ou  look  at  me  in  that  way  ?"  I 
asked. 

She  made  no  reply,  casting  down  her  eyes 
at  my  brown  hand,  which  held  her  dimpled 
fingers. 

"  You  mustn't  dread  me  because  I  am 
obliged  to  fight,''  I  continued.  "  These  are 
war  times  ;  there  are  a  great  many  soldiers 
in  the  land  who  think  nothino:  of  killins:  one 
another." 

"Don't  they?"  She  raised  her  eyes  wide 
open  with  surprise. 

"  Of  course  war  is  cruel,  but — but  it  calls 
out  much  that  is  noble." 

"  \Yhen  they  kill  each  other  ?" 

What  puzzling  questions  to  come  from  such 
untutored  lips.  I  was  casting  about  for  some 
explanatory  reply  when  a  sudden  interruption 
reliev^ed  my  embarrassment.  A  negro  boy 
dashed  into  the  room,  through  it,  and  out  of 
another  door.  He  Avas  followed  by  the  white 
boy  I  had  noticed  on  the  day  of  my  arrival, 
who  was  screaming : 

"  Doggone  yo',  Zac,  I'll  break  eveiy  bone 
in  yo'  consarned  black  body  !" 

The  words  were  scarcely  out  when  he  shot 
through  the  door  by  which  the  fugitive  had 


24  SWEET    REVENGE 

vanished.  Little  Ethel  looked  after  him  with 
frightened  eyes,  evidently  dreading  a  catas- 
trophe. 

"  Who's  that  ?"  I  asked. 

"  Buck." 

"  Your  brother  ?'' 

"  Yes." 

"  Don't  be  alarmed.  That's  only  a  boy's 
passion  ;  it  won't  amount  to  anything." 

"  He  says  such  dreadful  words." 

"  That's  habit ;  he  doesn't  mean  anything 
by  it ;  but  it's  a  habit  that  should  be  broken." 

I  soon  got  her  quieted,  and  she  prattled 
about  her  dolls,  her  play-houses,  some  pet 
rabbits,  and  a  nook  in  the  garden  where  she 
kept  them.  How  singular  that  war,  which 
absorbed  all  about  her,  should  have  no  place 
in  her  mind.  Amid  all  the  turmoil,  the  rum- 
bling of  cannon,  the  tramp  of  men  and  horses, 
bushwhacking,  skirmishing,  battles,  this  inno- 
cent little  maid  Avas  strangely  out  of  place. 
Her  mother  came  in  presently  and  took  her 
away,  fearing  that  she  would  anno}'^  me.  I 
was  loath  to  part  with  her.  No  healing  balm 
had  been  applied  to  my  wound  so  soothing, 
so  grateful,  as  was  her  prattle  to  my  fevered 
brain  and  chilled  heart. 


A   DEFINITE   OBJECT  25 

They  had  scarcely  left  me  when  Buck 
stalked  into  the  room,  his  boyish  face  as  free 
from  passion  as  if  he  had  never  been  ruffled. 
He  had  made  several  attempts  to  visit  me, 
notwithstanding  that  he  had  been  forbidden 
the  room.  Seeing  the  coast  clear,  he  slipped 
in  unannounced  and  began  a  fire  of  questions. 

"Does  it  hurt?" 

"  My  arm  ?     Yes,  it  hurts  some." 

"I'm  glad  yo'  plunked  him." 

"Why  do  you  s^niipathize  with  me  instead 
of  the  other?  You  have  only  seen  me  a  few 
times." 

This  was  too  much  for  him  to  explain.  I 
could  see  that  he  had  conceived  an  admiration 
for  me,  but  he  could  not  tell  why. 

"What  did  he  try  to  kill  you  fo'  ?"  he  asked. 

"  Well,  perhaps  it  was  because  my  existence 
annoyed  him." 

"  What  did  you  want  to  kill  him  fo'  ?" 

"  I  found  it  inconvenient  to  have  him  shoot- 
ing at  me." 

"/'r/  like  to  shoot  a  man.  I  shot  a  rabbit 
once,  but  that's  purty  small  game.  Pop,  he 
won't  let  me  have  a  gun  yet.  He  says  I  may 
have  one  when  I'm  sixteen." 

"  Buck !"  called  a  voice  from  the  haU.     The 


36  SWEET   REVENGE 

boy  dropped  behind  a  sofa.  An  old  negro 
woman  entered  and  looked  around. 

"Yo',  Buck!  yo'  hidin'  somewhar' !  Yo' 
maw  '11  spank  yo'  sho'  ef  she  cotch  y'  hyar 
troublin'  the  gemmlen.  Come  out  o'  dar ;  I 
knows  whar  y'  air !" 

I  was  about  to  interfere;  but  a  natural  dis- 
taste at  giving  away  a  fellow-creature  caused 
me  to  desist. 

"I  tho't  I  hearn  dat  chile  talken'."  The 
woman  stood  still  a  moment,  but,  hearing  no 
sound,  lumbered  out  of  the  room.  The  boy 
popped  up  from  behind  his  hiding-place  as 
soon  as  she  had  gone. 

"  I  like  yoi^,"  were  the  first  words  he  ut- 
tered. '•'■You  wouldn't  tell  on  a  feller,  would 
you  ?" 

"How  could  I  when  you  are  glad  I  'plunked' 
my  enemy  ?     Is  that  your  mamm}'-  ?" 

"  Yes ;  that's  Lib." 

"  jS'ursed  you  from  a  baby  ?" 

"  Yes ;  'n'  she  reckons  she's  goen  to  nurse 
me  all  my  life." 

"  Is  your  name  Buckingham  ?" 

"  Buckingham !  No,  I  'aint'  got  any  such 
doggone  name  as  that ;  my  name's  Buckeye." 

"  How  did  3^ou  happen  to  get  that  name  ?" 


A   DEFINITE    OBJECT  27 

"  'Cause  I  was  borned  thar." 

"  Where  ?" 

"  In  Buckeye." 

"In  Ohio?" 

"  Reckon  'tis  the  same." 

I  contemplated  Buck  for  a  while  without 
hearing  any  of  the  questions  he  continued  to 
fire  at  me.  Why  not  intrust  him  with  the 
message?  There  was  every  reason  why  I 
should  not  do  so,  except  that  he  was  devoted 
to  me  and  I  had  no  one  else  to  send.  While 
I  was  deliberating  Lib  came  in,  surprised  him, 
dragged  him  out  of  the  room,  and  shut  the 
door. 

I  heard  footsteps  on  the  veranda,  then  in 
the  hall,  then  ascending  the  staircase,  as  of 
people  carrying  a  burden.  The  door  had  evi- 
dently been  shut  to  prevent  my  seeing  what 
was  being  done.  For  a  while  there  was  a  hur- 
rving  to  and  fro,  and  I  knew  that  something 
unusual  had  occurred.  After  all  had  been 
quieted,  Buck,  who  had  meanwhile  escaped 
from  his  dusky  captor,  slipped  back  to  forbid- 
den ground. 

It  occurred  to  me  that  I  could  draw  from 
Buck  the  solution  of  the  recent  commotion ; 
but  what  passed  under  the  roof  of  my  friends 


38  SWEET    REVENGE 

was  no  concern  of  mine,  and  I  scorned  to  get 
it  from  a  mere  boy.  But  I  wished  to  test 
Buck's  power  of  reticence.  Ten  to  one  he  had 
been  instructed  not  to  talk  to  me  about  the 
mysterious  occurrence. 

"  Buck,"  I  asked,  "  who  came  to  the  house 
awhile  ago  V 

"Wasn't  anybody  came  to  the  house  awhile 
ago." 

"A  sick  man,  wasn't  it?" 

"  No,  he  wasn't  sick." 

"I  thought  3'ou  said  no  one  came?" 

"  No  one  did." 

"  Of  course  no  one  came ;  he  was  carried." 

"  If  yo'  know  so  much  about  't,  Mr.  Brandy- 
stone,  what's  the  use  o'  asken'  me  ?" 

"  You  admit  that  whoever  he  was,  he  wasn't 
sick?" 

"  Of  course  he  wasu't  sick.  How  could  he 
be  sick  if  he  wasn't  anybody  ?" 

There  was  a  sudden  rustling  in  the  hall,  and 
Helen  swept  into  the  room,  her  eyes  flashing 
fire. 

"Buck,  leave  the  room!"  she  commanded,  in 
no  uncertain  tone.  Buck  gave  a  glance  at  his 
sister,  which  told  him  he  had  better  obey,  and 
walked  out  reluctantly. 


A    DEFINITE    OBJECT  29 

"  You  have  been  listening,"  I  said,  curtly. 

"  I  have  not.  I  was  coming  through  the 
hall  and  heard  your  last  remark." 

"  And  you  infer  that  I  was  trying  to  get  a 
secret  which  does  not  at  all  concern  me?" 

"  I  most  assuredly  do." 

"You  are  mistaken.  I  care  no  more  for 
what  occurs  in  this  house  than  for  the  color  of 
the  dress  you  happen  to  wear.  I  had  another 
object  in  questioning  your  brother." 

"  I  dare  say  you  had." 

"  I  wished  to  discover  if  he  could  keep  a 
secret." 

"  I  dare  say  you  did." 

"  I  have  intended  nothing  dishonorable." 

"  Fudge !"  She  snapped  her  fingers  and  her 
eyes  at  the  same  time. 

"  You  don't  believe  me.  Very  well ;  I  don't 
believe  that  you  were  not  eavesdropping." 

"  I  was  not  eavesdropping !"  she  cried,  hotly. 
"  You  have  the  word  of  a  Southern  lady." 

"  And  I  was  not  trying  to  get  your  secret. 
You  have  the  word  of  a — "  I  stopped  short. 
I  had  run  against  a  snag.  She  gave  me  a 
glance  of  contempt  and  triumph.  Her  head 
was  up,  a  little  to  one  side,  her  nostrils  di- 
lated, her  breath  slow  and  measured. 


30  SWEET    REVENGE 

"Miss  Stanforth,"  I  said  —  I  was  near  be- 
traying what  demanded  secrecy — '.'  I  will  prove 
to  you  before  night — no,  not  before  night,  but 
soon — that  I  had  another  object.  I  will  no 
longer  remain  in  a  house  the  inmates  of 
which—"     I  made  a  step  towards  the  door. 

"  Mr.  Branderstane !" 

"Miss  Stanforth!" 

"  In  addition  to  sailing  under  false  colors,  you 
are  now  going  to  endanger  your  life  by — " 

"  Fudge  !  What  is  my  life  to  you  ?"  I 
snapped  my  fingers. 

"  A  good  deal  just  now.  It  is  unpleasant 
to  have  a  person  die  on  one's  hands." 

I  was  in  no  condition  for  this  encounter.  A 
buzzing  was  going  on  in  my  ears,  a  tingling 
sensation  in  my  limbs.  My  knees  were  giv^- 
ing  way,  and  I  was  obliged  to  sit  down  on  the 
sofa.  I  looked  longingly  at  a  bottle  of  brandy 
that  stood  on  the  table,  but  was  too  proud  to 
ask  for  it.  In  a  moment  Helen  had  poured 
some  of  the  liquor  into  a  tumbler  and  held  it 
to  my  lips.  I  drank  a  reviving  draught ;  she 
put  her  hands  on  my  shoulders  and  gently 
forced  me  to  lie  down. 

"  This  must  not  occur  again,"  she  said. 
"  You  have  no  strength  to  go,  and  I  have  no 


A    DEFINITE    OBJECT  31 

right  to  excite  you  while  in  your  present  con- 
dition. I  believe  what  you  told  me."  She 
put  out  her  hand. 

"  Pardon,"  I  said,  humbly.  "  When  calm 
I  would  as  soon  think  of  accusing  you  of 
eavesdropping  as  I  would  accuse  Diana  of  un- 
chastity.  I  have  been  ungallant,  rude — rude 
to  a  woman." 

"  Forget  it.  Lie  still,  and  you  will  soon  be 
yourself  again."  She  sat  down  by  a  table 
and  took  up  a  book.  "  I  will  sit  here  and 
read  while  you  recover  your  strength." 

She  read  for  perhaps  half  an  hour.  I  sup- 
posed she  was  interested  in  the  book,  for  she 
turned  one  page  after  another  and  seemed  to 
have  forgotten  me.  At  last  she  put  down  the 
volume,  and  by  her  first  words  convinced  me 
that  instead  of  being  interested  in  it  she  had 
been  thinking  of  my  puzzling  identity. 

"  I  want  to  ask  you  one  question." 

'^  Ask  it." 

"  Where  did  you  come  from  the  day  the 
shooting  occurred  ?" 

"  Huntsville." 

She  had  asked  the  one  question  and  had  re- 
ceived her  reply.  I  knew  by  her  expression 
that  she  wanted  to  ask  another. 


32  SWEET    KEVENGE 

"  I  suppose  you  were  there  long  enough  to 
become  acquainted  with  the  city.  It's  a 
beautiful  place." 

"  I  was  there  a  week." 

The  limit  of  one  question  having  been  over- 
stepped in  this  indirect  fashion,  it  was  easier 
for  her  to  proceed. 

"What  were  you  doing  there?" 

"  Looking  for  some  one." 

"  A  man  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  What  for  ?" 

I  did  not  reply  at  once.  I  was  thinking  of 
some  plan  by  which  to  put  an  end  to  her  cate- 
chising. 

"  If  I  tell  you,"  I  said,  presently,  "  will  you 
promise  to  ask  me  no  more  questions  ?" 

"  If  you  prefer  that  I  should  not." 

"  You  wish  to  know  why  I  was  seeking  my 
man  at  Huntsville  ?" 

"  I  do." 

"  You  will  keep  what  I  tell  you  a  secret  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  To  kill  him." 


rv 

WON  OVER 

Little  Buck  had  stood  my  test  as  to  his 
reticence  so  well,  and  I  was  at  such  desperate 
straits  for  a  messenger,  that  I  resolved  to  use 
him.  After  breakfast  I  waited  for  a  while,  hop- 
ing that  he  would  come  to  ray  room;  but  as 
he  did  not,  and  I  feared  he  was  deterred  by 
the  autocratic  Lib,  I  called  Jackson  and  told 
him  to  tell  the  bo}^  I  wished  to  see  him.  I 
took  a  Confederate  bill  from  ray  pocket  and 
handed  it  to  the  darky,  but  he  went  off 
grumblinof  "  that  he  didn't  want  no  Yankee 
money,  and  mas'r  wouldn't  hab  no  niggar  o' 
his'n  taken'  money  from  a  stranger  nohow." 
He  sent  Buck  to  me,  w^ho  came  in  looking 
somewhat  astonished  that  I  should  take  suflB.- 
cient  interest  in  him  to  call  for  him. 

"  Buck,"  I  said,  "  I  have  something  impor- 
tant to  say  to  you." 

"What  is  it,  Mr.  Brandystone ?" 


34  SWEET   KEVENGE 

"  Branderstane.  Please  don't  make  that 
mistake  again." 

"  I  won't,  sho." 

"  Back,  I'm  thinking  of  sending  you  on  an 
errand  ;  but  it's  a  great  secret." 

The  boy's  eyes  grew  as  big  as  saucers.  I 
looked  at  him  for  a  few  moments  to  observe 
the  effect  of  my  announcement,  and  then  went 
on. 

."  If  you  should  tell  an}^  one,  it  might  cost  me 
my  life.     You  wouldn't  tell,  w^ould  3^ou  ?" 

"  Tell !  Why,  sooner  'n  tell  I'd— I'd— ruther 
be  a — a — a — dead  rat  out  in  the  back  yard." 

'•  I  believe  I'll  trust  you.  Do  you  know  the 
road  to  Iluntsville?" 

"I  reckon  so;  I've  been  over  it  more  'n  a 
hundred  times." 

"  Got  a  pony  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  '  Pete.'  Hel'n,  she  drives  him  in  the 
buggy.  She  calls  him  hern,  but  he  isn't,  he's 
mine.     I  g-ot  a  bio;  dog,  too." 

"  Never  mind  the  dog.  Could  you  get  out 
your  pony  and  ride  into  Iluntsville  without 
any  one  suspecting  you  were  going  on  my  ac- 
count ?" 

"  Well,  now,  why  don'  y'  give  me  somet'n 
hard  ?" 


WON    OVER  35 

"  Go  and  get  me  a  newspaper  or  an  alma- 
nac." 

He  was  out  of  the  room  and  back  in  a  mo- 
ment with  a  Huntsville  paper  of  that  morn- 
ing's issue.  I  scanned  its  columns  before  look- 
ing at  the  date,  and  noticed  this  item: 

"The  main  body  of  the  Yankees  are  marching  from 
Nashville  to  Columbia  en  route,  it  is  supposed,  to  Pitts- 
burgh Landing,  where  they  will  doubtless  join  the  Fed- 
eral General  Grant." 

Looking  at  the  heading,  I  sa\A^  that  the  date 
was  the  1st  of  April. 

"Now,  Buck,''  I  said,  "get  out  your  pony; 
then  come  to  me  for  instructions." 

"  Look  a-hyar,  Mr.  Brandy— Brandj'stone — " 

"  Branderstane.'' 

"Well,  Mr.  Brandinstane,  if  you  got  any 
'structions  I  reckon  yo'  better  give  'm  to  me 
now.  Mebbe  if  I  come  back  hyar  that  dog- 
gone ole  Lib  '11  come  in  'n  yank  me  out." 

"  You're  right.  Reach  me  that  sheet  of 
note-paper  and  a  book  to  write  on —  that  thin 
one ;  now  a  pencil.  All  right.  Don't  say  a 
word  till  I  have  finished." 

I  wrote  a  message  in  as  infinitesimal  char- 
acters as  I  was  able,  on  a  third  of  a  sheet  of 
paper : 


36  SWEET    REVENGE 

"  Macliiiie-shops  at  Iluntsville  in  good  order.  Fifteen 
to  twenty  locomotives.  Nearly  a  hundred  cars.  No  force 
in  the  town.  To  tiie  east,  road  runs  parallel  witli  and 
near  the  pike  for  several  miles  and  is  handy  to  cut.  To 
the  west,  parly  to  cut  the  road  must  pass  round  the  city 
on  the  north.  Eueiny  gathering  all  possible  forces  at 
Piltsburgli  Landing,  but  several  thousand  men  at  Chat- 
tanooga." 

I  put  neither  address  nor  signature  to  it,  as 
none  were  necessary,  and  they  would  be  con- 
clusive evidence  against  me  if  the  message 
should  fall  into  the  wrong  hands. 

"  Buck,"  I  said,  "  mount  your  pony  and  ride 
to  Huntsville.  A  few  minutes  before  twelve 
o'clock  go  into  the  Huntsville  Hotel;  you 
know — the  big  brick  house  on  the  square.  Go 
up-stairs  and  out  on  the  front  gallery.  At 
twelve  o'clock  a  man  with  black  eyes,  long 
hair,  and  a  pointed  beard  will  walk  out  on  the 
gallery.  Don't  say  anything  to  him ;  wait, 
and  after  a  while  he'll  say  something  to  you." 

"  Will  he  V  asked  the  boy,  his  eyes  full  of 
wonder.     "  What  '11  he  say  ?"    , 

"  He'll  say,  '  It's  a  fine  day.'  " 

"  What !     If  it's  rainen'  ?" 

"  Yes ;  rain  or  shine,  if  he's  the  man  3'ou 
want,  he'll  say,  '  It's  a  fine  day.'  Then  you 
must     sa}'^,    'Reckon     you're    weather-wise, 


"WON    OVER  37 

stranger.'  To  that  he'll  reply  by  asking  you 
what  kind  of  weather  it  was  the  day  of  the 
massacre." 

"  What  massacre  ?     What's  a  massacre  ?" 

"  Never  mind  that.  Stick  to  the  lesson  I'm 
teaching  you.  You  must  say, '  Black  as  night.' 
Then  he'll  say,  '  What's  the  word  V  and  you 
can  hand  him  this  note.  Now,  suppose  I'm 
the  man  with  the  pointed  beard  and  you  go 
throuo;h  the  dialofi^ue  with  me." 

I  put  him  through  his  lesson  till  he  had 
learned  it  perfectly ;  then  I  sent  him  away 
with  the  injunction  that  in  case  anything 
should  go  wrong  with  him,  rather  than  part 
Avith  the  paper  he  was  to  swallow  it.  I  rolled 
it  into  a  ball  and  put  it  into  the  lining  of  his 
hat.  Giving  his  little  hand  a  squeeze,  I  bade 
him  go,  and  he  marched  out  as  proudly  as  if 
he  had  been  appointed  Military  Governor  of 
Alabama.  I  had  no  doubt  he  would  execute 
his  mission  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  but  he 
was  very  young,  and  I  feared  he  would  make 
some  blunder. 

"  What  a  fool  I  am !"  I  exclaimed,  as  soon 
as  he  was  gone.  "  I  should  have  failed  to 
communicate  rather  than  intrust  so  impor- 
tant a  matter  to  a  boy.     However,  I'll  leave 


38  SWEET    REVENGE 

here  to-morrow  morning,  and  if  my  message 
miscarries,  by  the  time  it's  discovered  I'll  be 
somewhere  'else." 

Helen  came  in  soon  after  Buck's  departure 
and  began  to  set  the  room  to  rights.  She  at- 
tended to  her  work  silently,  and  did  not  even 
look  at  me.  I  watched  her  as  she  moved 
about,  arranging  a  curtain  here,  moving  a 
chair  there,  or  piling  books  on  the  table  more 
neatl3^  She  was  a  true  type  of  a  Southern 
woman — tall,  willowy,  a  head  set  on  her  shoul- 
ders in  a  way  to  make  an  artist  involuntarily 
reach  for  a  brush.  Her  hair  and  eyes  were  as 
black  as  night,  while  on  her  cheeks  was  a 
bright  color.  There  was  something  on  her 
mind,  I  could  see  that  plainly.  I  fancied  if  I 
gave  her  time  it  would  come  out.  At  last  she 
dropped  her  work  and  stood  looking  out  of 
the  window. 

"  What  are  you  thinking  about  ?"'  I  asked, 
going  at  the  subject  with  brusque  directness. 

"  The  man  you  came  to  Alabama  to  kill." 

"  You  would  shield  him  ?" 

She  kept  her  eyes  on  the  road,  watching  a 
wagon  that  lumbered  by.  "  I  don't  know 
whether  I  would  or  not." 

"  You  want  to  know  all  about  hhn  ?" 


WON    OVER  39 

"  I  do." 

"In  the  first  place,  you  would  like  his 
name?" 

"  It  might  be  well  to  begin  with  that." 

"  Then  I  can't  begin,  for  I  don't  know  his 
name." 

"IS^ot  know  his  name?" 

"  No." 

"  What  is  he  like  ?" 

"  Tall,  well  built,  square  shoulders  which 
he  throws  back,  like  an  officer  in  the  regular 
army  of  the  United  States." 

I  paused.     She  waited  for  me  to  continue. 

"You  would  also  like  to  know  whether  his 
death  would  bereave  any  one :  a  father,  moth- 
er, sister — some  woman  who  hangs  upon  every 
word  he  says  when  he  is  with  her,  and  dreams 
of  him  constantly  when  he  is  away  ?"  I  spoke 
the  words  bitterl}'.  I  was  thinkiug  of  my 
loss. 

"  Yes,  I  would  like  to  know  that  too." 

"  I  can't  satisfy  you.  I  have  seen  him  only 
once,  and  then  at  a  distance." 

"  Does  he  Avish  to  kill  you  ?" 

"  No ;  I  don't  believe  he  is  aware  of  my  ex- 
istence." 

"Singular,"   she    murmured,   thoughtfully. 


40  SWEET   KEVENGE 

Then  she  turned  and  looked  me  in  the  face. 
"  He  has  occasioned  you  some  great  sorrow — 
done  you  some  mighty  wrong?" 

"You  promised  to  ask  me  no  more  ques- 
tions." 

"  True.     I  beg  your  pardon." 

Another  woman  would  have  pouted,  coaxed, 
done  everything  but  asked  openly  to  have  her 
curiosity  gratified.  Helen  Stanforth  was  made 
of  sterner  stuff.  She  stood  looking  out  of  the 
window  without  another  word.  I  waited  till 
I  was  satisfied  that  she  was  too  proud  to  ask 
for  favor,  then  started  in  again  with  the  pur- 
pose of  watching  the  development  of  some 
other  mood. 

"  You  are  heart  and  soul  a  Confederate  ?" 

"  I  am." 

"  And  you  will  not  excuse  those  Southern 
men  and  Avomen  who  differ  with  you?" 

"  Yes,  if  they  do  it  openly." 

This  was  a  cut  at  me  which  I  did  not  care 
to  notice.  "  Have  you  ever  seen,"  I  asked, 
"  men  forced  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  to 
enter  the  Confederate  army  ?  Have  you  ever 
seen  families,  trying  to  leave  the  South  to 
join  those  with  whom  they  affiliated,  shot 
down  in  their  tracks  ?" 


WON    OVER  41 

"  You  are  a  Union  man,  or  you  ^yould  never 
talk  that  way,"  she  interrupted. 

"  I  was  born  and  bred  in  Tennessee." 

"  Yes,  in  East  Tennessee." 

"  May  I  not  have  seen  great  wrong  done, 
and  yet  given  my  heart  and  soul  to  the  South- 
ern cause  ?" 

"  You  may,  but  have  not." 

She  was  getting  too  near  the  truth.  I  must 
throw  her  off  the  trail. 

"  I  will  impart  one  more  piece  of  informa- 
tion with  regard  to  myself.  You  have  prom- 
ised to  ask  no  more  questions  and  have  kept 
your  promise ;  you  deserve  a  reward." 

I  took  from  my  pocket  a  letter  and  held  it 
up  to  her.     It  was  addressed  to 

MAJOR   JOHN  BRAXDEHSTAXE, 

— th  Tennessee  Cavalry 

Murfieeshoro,  Tenn, 

Her  face  lighted.  She  did  not  know  there 
were  Tennessee  regiments  in  the  Union  ser- 
vice. "I  knew  you  were  a  soldier,  and  now 
I  know  you  are  a  Confederate."  She  put  out 
her  hand,  but  I  did  not  take  it. 

"  No,  no,"  I  said,  "  I  will  not  take  an  unfair 
advantage  of  you.  That  evidence  is  not  con- 
clusive.    I  have  shown  it  to  you  to  prove  that 


42  SWEET    REVENGE 

I  may  be  what  I  will.  I  could  offer  as  good 
proof  that  I  am  a  Yankee." 

"  I  don't  care  who  you  are,  you  are  an  hon- 
orable man." 

"  I  see  no  reason  for  you  to  assume  that." 

"  You  have  said  it  would  be  easy  for  you  to 
prove  to  me  that  you  are  what  I  wish  you  to 
be?" 

"  Granted." 

"  But  you  wuU  not.  You  have  reason  to  re- 
main unknown.  You  have  a  great  purpose. 
You  have  been  robbed  of  some  one  you  love. 
You  have  suffered  from  some  of  those  outrages 
in  East  Tennessee  that  papa  has  told  us  about. 
There  has  been  a  cowardly  murder.  You  will 
be  revenged.     I  know  it;  I  feel  it." 

She  w^as  splendid  in  her  indignation,  her 
sympathy.  I  protested  against  this  burst  of 
confidence,  but  to  no  purpose.  Were  I  the 
veriest  demon  in  Moloch's  train  no  one  could 
convince  her  of  it.  I  was  not  learned  in  the 
ways  of  women,  but  I  had  gained  an  insight 
into  this  girl's  nature.  Though  it  smouldered, 
it  was  emotional.  No  light  kindling  could  set 
it  aflame.  There  must  be  some  strong  underly- 
ing impulse.  The  purpose  that  I  had  revealed 
to  her  had  taken  hold  of  her  imagination. 


WON    OVER  43 

But  it  troubled  her  that  I  should  withhold 
my  secret  from  her.  She  gave  me  an  appeal- 
ing look. 

"  Why  do  you  not  trust  me  ?" 

"  I  do  trust  you.  Am  I  not  at  your  mercy  ? 
Should  you  inform  the  authorities  that  you 
have  an  unaccounted-for  man  under  your  roof 
I  sliould  be  arrested  at  once." 

"I  would  never  do  that." 

''No;  but  will  you  aid  me  in  remainine;  in- 
cognito  ?" 

She  was  silent.  There  was  evidently  a  ques- 
tion which  she  was  trying  to  solve.  ''  Would 
that  be  helping  you  to  kill  your  man?"  she 
asked. 

''  Suppose  it  would  ?" 

There  was  a  dangerous  glitter  in  her  eye. 
Perhaps  she  experienced  a  fascination  in  being 
thus  indirectly  a  party  to  my  Avork  of  ven- 
geance. 

"  You  have  not  answered  my  question,"  I 
said. 

Still  she  was  silent.  The  blood  was  cominof 
and  going  Aurora-like  on  her  neck  and  cheek. 
Presently  she  drew  her  lips  together  tightly 
as  if  she  were  striking  an  enemy — 

"  I  will." 


V 
ARREST 

"  Have  you  a  man  by  the  name  of  Brander- 
stane  stopping-  with  you  V 

I  heard  the  words  spoken  at  the  front  door 
in  a  pleasant  voice,  in  Avhich  there  was  some- 
thing languid.  My  heart  began  a  vigorous 
thumping.  Looking  out  of  the  window  I  saw 
a  troop  of  Confederate  cavalry  at  the  gate,  and 
men  darting  in  different  directions.  I  knew 
that  the  house  was  being  surrounded.  Helen 
went  out  to  meet  the  inquirer. 

"  Do  you  wish  to  see  Mr.  Branderstane  ?" 
she  asked. 

"I  do." 

Helen  must  have  suspected  that  I  was  in 
danger.  There  was  a  slight  pause,  in  which  I 
fancied  she  was  deliberating  what  to  do. 

"  He  is  in  a  critical  condition,"  she  said. 
"  He  was  wounded  recently.  Is  your  business 
with  him  important  V 


AEKEST .  45 

"  Very  important." 

"  Show  the  gentleman  in,  if  you  please,  Miss 
Stanforth,"  I  called.  I  knew  there  was  noth- 
ing to  be  gained  by  attempting  to  put  the  man 
off.     I  must  appear  unconcerned. 

She  led  the  way  to  where  I  was.  A  young 
man  m  the  uniform  of  a  Confederate  captain 
entered.  He  was  a  handsome  fellow,  with  an 
mdolent,  self  -  indulgent  air,  and  evidently  a 
gentleman.  He  was  extremely  deferential  to 
Helen,  carrying  his  hat  in  his  hand  and  bear- 
ing himself  as  if  it  pained  hun  to  thus  trespass 
upon  the  household. 

"  Are  yo'  John  Branderstane,  sir  V 

"  At  your  service.     And  3'ou  V 

"  Captain  Beaumont,  — th  Geowgia  Cavalry, 
sir." 

"  What  can  I  do  for  you,  captain  ?" 

"  I  must  trouble  you  to  get  up  and  come 
with  me." 

"  On  what  authority  ?" 

"My  own,  sir.  It  has  been  reported  to  me 
that  a  Southern  man  working  in  the  Yankee 
ijiterest  is  here,  and  I  have  come  to  take  him." 

"  Don't  3'ou  think  that  an  arbitrary  way  to 
treat  a  citizen  of  Tennessee,  captain  ?" 

"Not  when  he  has  Yankee  affihations." 


46  SWEET    KEYENGE 

"  By  what  right  do  you  accuse  me  of  Yan- 
kee aiRliations?" 

"  You  were  watched  all  the  time  you  were 
at  Iluntsville,  sir.  There  was  no  evidence 
against  you,  and  you  were  allowed  to  leave  the 
city ;  but  after  you  had  got  away  a  man  came 
forward  who  claimed  to  have  seen  you  in  one 
of  the  Yankee  camps  at  Nashville." 

"  Indeed  ?  Did  he  explain  his  own  presence 
there  ?" 

This  was  a  home-thrust.  The  captain  hesi- 
tated. 

"It  seems  to  me,  captain,"  I  added,  follow- 
ing up  my  advantage,  "  that  you  are  hasty  in 
acting  on  such  information." 

Helen  spoke  up :  "  My  father  was  at  Nash- 
Yille  soon  after  the  surrender.  AYould  you  ar- 
rest him  V 

"  The  information  comes  pretty  straight.  I 
reckon  you'll  have  to  come  along." 

"His  wound  is  liable  to  open,"  said  Helen, 
"and  if  it  should  there  might  be  a  fatal  re- 

Sillt." 

She  spoke  with  apparent  indifference,  but 
she  could  not  avoid  betraying  some  interest. 
The  officer  looked  up  at  her  with  a  pair  of  soft 
brown  eyes  inquiringly.     I  saw  at  once  that 


ARKEST  47 

he  suspected  a  tender  relationship  between  us, 
but  he  was  too  well-bred  to  tread  upon  so  del- 
icate a  matter. 

"  lie  can  remain  where  he  is  until  he  is  bet- 
ter," he  said,  bowing  to  Helen,  "  if  you  will 
give  me  your  word — the  word  of  a  Southern 
lady — that  he  shall  not  leave  your  house  till 
we  call  for  him/' 

Helen  cast  an  inquiring  look  at  me  to  know 
if  she  should  give  the  pledge.  I  saw  that  a 
glance  would  enable  me  to  remain  where  I 
was,  and  if  I  chose,  after  the  departure  of  the 
troop,  leave  the  house,  with  Helen  to  bear  the 
responsibility  of  my  going. 

"Konsense,  man!"  I  said,  rising,  "Do  you 
suppose  I'm  going  to  permit  a  woman  to  stand 
between  you  and  me?  You  are  a  gentleman, 
if  you  are  taking  it  upon  yourself  to  arrest 
whom  you  please.  And  I'm  enough  of  a  gen- 
tleman not  to  avail  myself  of  your  proffered 
avenue  of  escape.  If  I  must  go,  I  must. 
Where  do  you  intend  to  take  me,  captain  ?" 

By  this  time  several  men  who  had  followed 
the  officer  pushed  their  way  into  the  room.  I 
received  no  reply  to  my  question,  but  was 
ordered  to  get  up  and  go  with  them.  The 
members  of  the  familv,  discovering  that  some- 


48  SWEET    KEVENGE 

thing  had  gone  wrong,  flocked  about,  and  it 
was  easy  to  see  that  though  they  did  not  un- 
derstand why  I  was  arrested,  they  were  all  in 
sympathy  with  me.  Mrs.  Stanforth  seemed 
greatly  distressed ;  Mr.  Stanforth  attempted 
to  argue  my  case  for  me— of  course  to  no  pur- 
pose ;  the  negroes  were  all  indignant.  AVhile 
waitino'  for  mv  horse  I  heard  Lib  deliverino: 
herself  in  the  back  hall : 

"  Wha'  fo'  dat  mis'able  osifer  wid  he  sleeves 
covered  all  ober  wid  deni  goP  snakes  goen'  t' 
'rest  a  fine  South'n  gemmlen  like  dat  ?  Dat  wha' 
yo'  call  freedom  ?  Colored  folks  got  mo'  free- 
dom den  dat.  I  hea'h  mas'r  talken'  'bout  'stu- 
tional  libe'y.  Wha's  de  use  o'  'stutional  libe'y 
when  de  oder  man  got  he  hand  on  yo'  collar?" 

I  heard  no  more,  for  I  was  conducted  out  to 
the  gallery.  Just  as  I  started  down  the  walk 
Ethel  appeared  with  curious  eyes,  and  I  paused 
to  take  her  up  and  give  her  a  parting  kiss.  I 
cast  a  glance  at  Helen.  There  was  intense  in- 
terest in  her  face,  but  among  so  many  emotions 
I  could  not  discover  which  predominated.  I 
went  with  the  soldiers  down  to  the  gate,  where 
I  found  my  horse,  and,  mounting,  a  cavalryman 
on  each  side  of  me,  rode  away  with  the  troop. 

We  proceeded  up  the  pike  for  a  short  dis- 


ARKEST  49 

tance,  then,  crossing  the  railroad  track,  struck 
a  road  which  bent  to  the  east. 

"  Captain,"  I  said,  "  I  don't  like  the  direc- 
tion you  are  going.  If  your  intentions  were 
not  murderous  you  would  take  rae  to  Hunts- 
ville  and  examine  into  the  charge  against  me. 
It  appears  that  you  are  taking  me  into  the 
country  to  dispose  of  me." 

"I  am  on  m}'^  way  to  join  my  squadron  near 
Brownsborough,  sir,  where  yo'  will  have  an 
opportunity  to  face  you'  accuser.  If  yo'  are 
innocent  yo'll  have  no  trouble;  yo'  can  en- 
list in  my  company." 

"  Thank  you ;  do  I  look  like  a  man  who 
would  go  begging  for  a  commission  ?" 

"I  beg  yo'  pardon,  sir;"  and  he  lifted  his 
hat  apologetically. 

I  had  retained  my  coolness  thus  far,  but  I 
confess  I  did  not  like  the  situation.  As  a 
Southern  man,  used  to  Southern  people,  I  felt 
a  certain  confidence;  yet  if  it  were  known 
that  I  was  a  Union  officer  I  would  be  put  out 
of  the  way  without  benefit  of  clergy.  Who 
was  the  man  who  had  informed  against  me  ? 
What  did  he  know  ?  The  more  I  thought 
about  it  the  more  intense  became  my  anxiety. 
Suddenly  I  looked   up  and  saw  whit-e  tents. 


50  SWEET    REVENGE 

I  knew  at  once  by  the  looks  of  the  camp  that 
it  contained  one  or  two  companies  of  cavahy. 
There  was  a  raih^oad  bridge  near  by,  crossing 
Avhat  I  knew  to  be  Flint  River,  and  I  judged 
that  the  cavalry  was  guarding  this  bridge. 

I  had  forgotten  my  unlucky  wound  and 
was  intent  on  the  camp,  when,  passing  under 
overhanging  branches,  a  stiff  bough  scraped 
my  arm,  and  I  felt  at  once  that  it  had  been 
injured.  I  told  the  captain  of  my  fears,  and 
we  halted  to  make  an  examination.  Taking 
off  my  coat,  there,  as  I  expected,  was  a  stain 
of  fresh  blood  on  my  shirt-sleeve. 

"  You  needn't  trouble  yourself  to  murder 
me,"  I  remarked ;  "  that  wound  is  a  better  en- 
emy than  all  my  others  together." 

The  captain  cast  glances  about  him  for  a 
house.  He  had  no  intention  of  murdering  me 
or.  being  a  party  indirectly  to  my  death. 
"While  he  was  making  a  survey  of  the  sur- 
rounding countr}'^  I  was  twisting  my  handker- 
chief above  the  wound. 

"  Can  you  get  to  that  plantation  T  he 
asked. 

I  looked  up  and  saw  a  large  manor-house 
about  half  a  mile  distant,  with  its  Hanking 
rows  of  neii:ro  huts. 


AKREST  51 

"  I  can  try  it."" 

We  mounted  and  rode  on,  and  in  a  few  min- 
utes passed  into  the  gateway  between  impos- 
ing stone  posts,  proceeding  by  a  winding  way 
to  tlie  house.  I  was  glad  to  dismount  and  get 
inside  the  spacious  hall  out  of  the  sun.  There 
I  sat  down  on  an  old-fashioned,  hair-cloth,  ma- 
hogany sofa. 

A  number  of  white  and  negro  children,  who 
were  playing  together  as  contentedly  as  if 
the  pickaninnies  were  not  the  property  of  their 
fair-skinned  playmates,  stood  gaping  at  me. 
A  slim  man  with  a  determined  mouth,  at  the 
corners  of  which  were  marks  of  tobacco  juice 
— he  turned  out  to  be  an  overseer — an  equally 
thin  elderly  woman,  whom  I  heard  addressed 
as  Miss  Pinkley,  and  a  quadroon  girl  made  up 
the  group.  I  was  sitting  with  my  head  rest- 
ing against  the  sofa-back,  weak  and  despond- 
ent. Suddenly  down  the  great  winding  stair- 
case came  a  young  girl  with  a  shapely  petite 
figure,  a  pretty  oval  face,  and  an  olive  com- 
plexion, from  which  two  almond-shaped  eyes 
flashed  at  me  and  the  group  about  me  with 
the  quintessence  of  astonishment.  Running 
her  words  together  in  a  way  peculiar  to  her- 
self, she  asked : 


52  SWEET    KEVENGE 

"What's  the  matter?" 

"The  gentleman's  bleeding  from  a  wound 
in  the  arm,  Miss  Jack,"  said  the  quadroon 
girl. 

"  AVho  is  he?  What  is  he?  Is  he  ffoino-  to 
die?"  She  fired  the  words  as  if  they  were 
bullets. 

"  Jaqueline,"  put  in  the  elderl}^  hid}^  called 
Miss  Pinkley,  "  don't  ask  so  many  questions 
at  once."  Then  she  went  up- stairs,  remark- 
infi:  that  she  would  brini]:  her  smellino'  salts. 

"  I  don't  think  I'm  going  to  die  just  yet,"  I 
said,  smiling  encouragingly  at  the  young  gii'l, 
whose  interest  I  had  excited.  "  I  received  a 
Nvound  a  few  days  ago  and  have  had  very  bad 
luck  with  it.  Anything  that  hits  me  never 
fails  to  strike  the  tender  spot." 

"Why  don't  you  He  down?  Cynthia,  go 
get  pillows." 

Cynthia,  the  quadroon  girl,  was  engaged  at 
that  moment  trying  to  drive  away  the  chil- 
dren, and  did  not  at  once  obey. 

"  Cynthia,  go  get  pillows !"  repeated  Miss 
Jaqueline,  stamping  her  foot. 

It  occurred  to  me  that  this  3'oung  girl  pos- 
sessed an  unbridled  disposition.  Cynthia,  who 
was  doubtless  used   to  her  mistress's  way  of 


ARREST  53 

speaking,  went  for  the  pillows,  and  when  they 
arrived  Miss  Jack  made  me  lie  down,  whether 
I  would  or  not,  and  covered  me  with  a  shawl, 
sprinkling  me  all  the  while  with  such  a  warm 
shower  of  devotion  that,  despite  her  irate  or- 
der to  her  maid,  she  quite  Avon  my  heart. 

Looking  out  through  the  hall  door  I  saw  a 
fat  man  bestride  a  lean  horse,  with  saddle- 
bags, wiping  the  perspiration  from  his  face 
and  riding  up  to  the  gallery.  He  dismounted 
and  entered,  puffing  for  breath,  and  proved  to 
be  a  countrv  doctor.  Puttins:  on  a  ffrave 
face,  he  examined  m}'^  wound  critically,  and 
made  great  ado  at  dressing  and  bandaging  it; 
then  delivered  the  usual  admonition.  He  de- 
parted, leaving  me  l3ing  on  the  sofa.  Miss 
Jack  beside  me,  ministering  to  wants  that 
were  not  wanted,  devising  schemes  to  meet 
requirements  that  were  not  required.  Sud- 
denly the  two  guards  attracted  her  attention. 
They  had  been  in  the  hall  ever  since  my  ar- 
rival, but  had  not  until  this  moment  excited 
her  antagonism. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ?"  Though  her 
words  were  spoken  sharply,  her  voice  was 
soft  and  musical. 

"  On  guard,"  replied  one  of  the  men. 


54  SWEET    REVENGE 

"  This  isn't  your  house.    Go '  way  from  here." 

"  Hain't  got  no  orders." 

"  I  give  you  orders."  Fire  was  beginning 
to  dart  from  her  eyes. 

I  interfered.  "  They  are  only  doing  their 
duty." 

"  They  have  no  right  in  tliis  house." 

"  But  if  you  drive  them  out  they  will  take 
me  with  them." 

"  Will  they?"  Her  manner  changed.  "Never 
mind,"  she  said  to  the  guard,  "  please  don't 
leave  us ;  I  wouldn't  have  you  go  for  the 
world.  You're  quite  ornamental :  one  on  one 
side  of  the  door,  the  other  on  the  other  side, 
like  statues;  men-at-arms  in  castle  halls." 

The  men  looked  at  each  other  foolishly  and 
grinned.  The  girl  went  up  to  one  of  them 
and  asked  him  to  let  her  examine  his  carbine. 
He  did  not  quite  like  to  let  it  go,  but  she  took 
it  Avithout  saying  "  by  your  leave." 

"  What  a  funny  gun  I  How  short !  How 
many  times  can  you  fire  it  off?  I  wonder 
if  I  could  shoot  with  it  I" 

She  brought  it  up  to  her  shoulder,  and,  after 
pointing  it  to  the  wall,  levelled  it  first  at  one 
man,  then  at  the  other.  They  both  looked  a 
trifle    nervous,  but   said   nothing.     Then   she 


ARREST  55 

made  a  motion  to  cock  it  when  the  muzzle 
was  covering  one  of  tlie  men,  and  he  protest- 
ed.    She  burst  into  a  merry  laugh. 

"  What  a  brave  man !  Can't  stand  being 
pointed  at  by  a  girl !  Ever  in  a  battle  ? 
What's  it  like  ?" 

The  soldier  made  no  reply,  but  reached  for 
his  carbine,  and  seemed  very  much  relieved 
when  she  suffered  him  to  take  it.  There  was 
no  more  play,  for  at  that  moment  we  heard 
the  sound  of  horses'  hoofs,  and,  looking  out 
through  the  hall  doorway,  I  saw  two  men 
riding  up  to  the  house.  The  one  was  Captain 
Beaumont,  the  other  Tom  Jaycox,  the  bitter- 
est of  all  my  Tennessee  enemies,  and  upon 
whom  I  had  visited  most  summary  punish- 
ment for  the  part  he  had  taken  in  the  mas- 
sacre. In  another  minute  they  had  dismount- 
ed and  ascended  the  steps  of  the  gallery, 
then  came  rapidly  through  the  hall.  Captain 
Beaumont's  appearance  denoted  that  there  was 
something  on  his  mind  of  great  moment. 
His  companion  lumbered  along  beside  him 
with  the  appearance  of  one  looking  for  some- 
thing or  some  one  of  peculiar  interest  to  him. 
He  was  a  short,  thick-set  man  in  corduroy 
trousers,  a  double-breasted  vest,  open,  no  coat. 


56  SWEET    REVENGE 

and  a  broad-briniraed  straw  hat,  the  hue  of 
wliich  indicated  that  it  had  served  for  several 
summers.  His  nose  had  been  broken,  and  he 
had  lost  an  eye.  A  coarse,  stubby,  brown-and- 
gray  beard  grew  on  his  chin.  An  uglier  speci- 
men of  the  poor  wdiite  of  the  South  could 
scarcely  be  imagined,  and  the  moment  I  saw 
him,  knowing  of  his  enmit37^  for  me,  I  gave 
myself  up  for  lost. 

"  There  he  is,"  said  Captain  Beaumont. 

"  I  reckoned  so,"  replied  the  other ;  "'  he's 
yo'  man." 

"  Who  is  he  ?"  asked  Miss  Jack,  quickly. 

"  A  renegade  from  the  South,  an  abolition 
hound — one  o'  our  East  Tennessee  dogs.  What 
he's  doen'  hyar  I  dun  no,  but  I  reckon  he's  on 
some  errant  fo'  the  Yankee  gineral  at  Mur- 
freesboro." 

Suddenly  all  the  careless,  indolent  demeanor 
of  the  captain  deserted  him.  With  true  South- 
ern impulse,  without  stopping  to  investigate 
the  charge,  he  was  fired  by  the  story  that 
he  held  in  his  hands  one  who,  though  a  South- 
erner, was  hunting  information  for  the  detest- 
ed Yankees. 

"  Guard  !"  he  called. 

The  two  men  approached. 


ARREST  57 

"  Take  him  away  and  see  that  he  doesn't 
get  back  here.  I  don't  want  ever  to  see  him 
again." 

I  was  stunned.  I  knew  well  what  this  or- 
der meant.  I  had  heard  it  given  in  case  of 
outlaws,  and  knew  that  it  was  the  form  in 
which  orders  were  given  to  take  men  out  and 
shoot  them.  Many  a  guerilla  received  his 
sentence  in  those  words. 

"Captain,"  I  cried,  "if  you  shoot  me  you 
will  commit  a  murder !  That  man  " — pointing 
to  the  brute  beside  him — "  is  the  real  mur- 
derer. I  know  liim  well.  I  saw  him  shoot- 
ing down  women  and  children.  I  saw  him — " 
I  stopped  short.  There  was  an  incredulous 
look  on  the  captain's  face.  I  knew  that  my 
accuser  had  his  confidence.  I  realized  that 
denials  and  counter  accusations  were  expected 
from  one  in  my  position,  and  would  have  no 
v;eight. 

Jaqueline,  though  she  could  not  have  un- 
derstood the  captain's  order,  from  my  words  • 
and  from  my  stricken  appearance  realized  the 
situation.  She  stood  paralyzed,  but  only  for 
a  moment.  While  the  guards  were  advancinfj 
towards  me  she  stole  up  to  the  captain  arid 
slipped  her  arm  through  his.    When  he  looked 


58  SWEET    REVENGE 

down  at  her  she  was  gazing  up  into  his  face 
with  the  perfection  of  coquetry.  I  watched 
the  effect  eagerl}'-.  His  first  expression  was 
one  of  surprise,  then  all  severity  died  away; 
an  amused  look  followed,  mingled  with  admi- 
ration, and  at  last  he  broke  into  a  pleasant 
smile. 


VI 

AN  AMATEUR  SOUBRETTE 

I  HAVE  seen  men  disarmed  in  various  ways: 
by  argument,  fear,  force ;  but  never  have  I 
seen  one  so  quickly  vanquished  as  he  who  was 
about  to  rush  me  off  to  execution.  His  in- 
tended act  was  most  unwarranted,  and  had  he 
been  induced  to  refrain  by  logical  arguments 
I  should  not  have  been  surprised.  But  Jaque- 
line  knew  nothino;  of  loo;ic  or  the  merits  of  the 
case.  She  used  no  plea ;  she  conquered  by  a 
look. 

"  What  a  queer  man  !" 

"  Who — I  V    The  captain's  smile  broadened. 

"  Queerest  man  I  ever  saw.  What  do  yo' 
want  to  take  him  away  fo'  ?  Don't  y'  know 
he's  wounded,  and  we  just  got  him  fixed  upC" 

"  You  don't  mean  it !"  He  spoke  as  defer- 
entially as  if  the  information  were  really  a 
surprise  to  him. 

"  Don't  want  ever  to  see  him  again  ?    What 


60  SWEET    REVENGE 

a  grumpy  thing  you  must  be  I  Suppose  I'd 
say  I  wanted  never  to  see  you  again  ?" 

"  YouVl  break  my  heart." 

All  this  was  not  to  the  liking  of  the  cap- 
tain's companion.  "  Well,  captain,"  he  put  in, 
"  what  y'  goen'  ter  do  ?  Goen'  ter  let  him  lay 
thar  to  be  coddled  b}^  the  fambly  ?" 

"  Yo'  hush  !"  cried  Jaqueline,  with  suddenly 
flashing  eyes.  The  man  started  back.  Pos- 
sibly he  was  unused  to  such  quick  transitions. 
"  Yo'  can't  take  him  away  till  his  arm  gets 
well.  'Spose  he  bleeds  to  death  ?  You'd  have 
his  blood  on  yo'  hands.    Just  think  of  that!" 

Considering  that  tiiey  had  intended  to  take 
me  out  and  shoot  me,  the  warning  was,  to  say 
the  least,  amusing.  Every  one  burst  into  a 
lauofh ;  indeed,  I  could  hardly  refrain  from 
joining  in  it  myself,  notwithstanding  my  criti- 
cal situation. 

"  You  certainly  don't  want  to  commit  a 
gross  blunder,  captain,"  I  remarked.  "  You 
can  at  least  give  me  some  sort  of  a  trial." 

"  Reckon  I  can  refer  the  matter  to  head- 
quarters," lie  replied,  fixing  his  eyes  on  Jaque- 
line. 

It  was  a  delicate  scale  that  balanced  life 
and  death  in  war  time,  and  often  required  only 


AN    AMATEUR    SOUBRETTE  61 

a  feather's  weight  to  turn  it.  It  had  been  turn- 
ed, for  the  time,  and  turned  effectually.  The 
guards  were  ordered  back,  and  the  captain 
sauntered  away  with  my  accuser,  who  ex- 
postulated as  they  passed  out  of  the  house 
on  to  the  galler3^  Pulling  a  cigar  out  of  his 
pocket,  Captain  Beaumont  sat  down  in  a  rock- 
ing-chair and  began  to  smoke  as  tranquilly  as 
if  nothing  unusual  had  happened,  listening 
composedly  to  the  ruffian  who  was  trying  to 
s:et  him  to  shoot  me.  But  Beaumont  was  now 
as  difficult  to  move,  as  imperturbable,  as  he  had 
been  before  irate,  and  Jaycox  at  last  went 
away  disappointed.  He  gave  me  a  malignant 
glance  before  going,  which  said,  plainly,  "  I'll 
fix  you  yet." 

The  captain  continued  sitting  where  he  was, 
his  head  resting  on  the  back  of  the  rocker, 
looking  dreamily  up  at  the  waving  branches 
of  a  large  tree  set  against  the  blue  sky.  Sup- 
per Avas  announced,  and  Jaqueline,  taking  a 
rose,  went  out,  and,  fixing  it  in  a  buttonhole 
of  his  coat,  led  him  into  the  dining-room. 
Before  passing  out  of  sight  she  turned  and 
gave  me  a  meaning  glance,  accompanied  by  a 
wry  face  at  her  companion.  As  the  captain's 
back  was  turned,  it  was  safe  for  me  to  indulge 


63  SWEET    REVENGE 

ill  a  smile.  Indeed,  I  fear  I  could  hardly  have 
refrained  had  his  face  been  towards  me.  This 
little  Jaqueline  was  certainly  unique. 

While  they  were  at  supper  I  was  deliberat- 
ing upon  the  situation.  It  w^as  evident  that  my 
old  enemies  had  either  stumbled  upon  me  or 
had  learned  of  my  presence  in  Korth  Alabama, 
and  were  bent  on  my  destruction.  It  was  a 
desperate  case.  I  was  an  officer  in  the  Union 
army,  within  the  enemy's  lines,  in  citizen's 
dress,  and  in  that  enemy's  hands.  I  was 
hounded  by  men  who  would  not  scruple  to 
use  any  means  to  get  me  into  their  power.  If 
I  did  not  escape  from  the  Confederates  I 
should  hang;  if  I  did  escape  I  should  be 
murdered. 

Presently  Jaqueline  and  the  captain  came 
out  from  the  supper-room,  Jaqueline  in  ad- 
vance, the  captain's  eyes  fixed  on  the  pretty 
ligure  before  him.  Jaqueline  was  very  grace- 
ful, very  dainty.  Her  every  motion  was  charm- 
ing. She  was  so  light  on  her  feet  that  she 
seemed  scarcely  to  touch  the  ground.  Though 
she  walked,  she  danced,  while  her  eyes  danced 
with  her  body,  her  lips  wearing  a  perpetual 
smile.  Once  she  took  two  or  three  steps,  turn- 
ing half  around— a  lYiere  suspicion  of  a  dance 


AN    AMATEUR    SOUBKETTE  63 

— a  delicious,  tantalizing  bit,  like  a  sip  of  rare 
wine. 

''  I'd  like  to  meet  yo'  in  a  ball-room,"  re- 
marked the  captain,  languidly. 

"  Why  so  ?" 

"Yo'  would  dance  beautifully;  yo'd  make 
a  charming  partner." 

"  I  can  sing." 

"  Can  you  ?" 

"  Yes,  and  play.  One  day  I  was  playing 
Ginger's  banjo  behind  the  barn.  Papa  called, 
'Yo'  Ginger,  stop  that  infernal  twanging!' 
Wasn't  it  funny  ?" 

She  laughed ;  the  captain  laughed ;  I 
laughed.  There  was  something  very  catching 
about  the  little  minx  that  neither  of  us  could 
resist. 

She  drew  an  arm-chair  close  beside  the  sofa 
on  which  I  was  lying,  and  insisted  on  the  cap- 
tain seating  himself  in  it.  He  demurred,  but 
Miss  Jack  would  have  it  so,  and  the  man,  who 
half  an  hour  before  had  ordered  me  out  to  be 
shot,  was  sitting  by  me  as  though  we  were  ex- 
cellent friends.  Jaqueline  seated  herself  in  a 
rocker  directly  in  view  of  both  myself  and  the 
captain,  and,  rocking  vigorousl}'  all  the  while, 
chatted  like  a  magpie.     The  captain  settled 


64  SWEET   REVENGE 

himself  within  his  comfortable  seat,  asked  per- 
mission to  smoke,  and,  finding  tliat  he  had  but 
one  cigar,  insisted  on  my  smoking  it.  Of 
course  I  refused,  but  he  was  too  innately  well- 
bred  to  smoke  it  himself  without  another  for 
me.  Miss  Jack  solved  the  }3roblem  by  stand- 
ing; before  him  with  a  lio'hted  match  till  he 
was  forced  to  yield. 

Then  from  without  came  the  jingle  of  a 
banjo.  Jaqueline  caught  the  sound  and  stood 
listening,  her  head  poised  on  one  side,  her  eyes 
sparkUng  as  though  forgetful  of  ever^'thing 
save  the  music. 

"That's  'The  Bonny  Blue  Flag'!"  she  ex- 
claimed, and  she  hummed  the  words  in  a 
sweet  though  bj'^  no  means  strong  voice.  As 
she  went  on  she  sang  rather  than  hummed, 
becoming  more  and  more  animated,  keeping 
time  by  patting  her  foot  on  the  floor.  I 
glanced  at  the  captain.  He  was  looking  at  her 
admiringly,  the  charm  enhanced  at  hearing  a 
war-song  dear  to  every  Confederate  soldier, 
given  with  so  much  spirit  by  such  an  attrac- 
tive creature. 

Suddenly  the  music  stopped. 

"  Don't  yo'  like  music  ?"  asked  Jaqueline  of 
the  captain,     ^^/do — I  love  it." 


AN   AMATEUK    SOUBRETTE  65 

"I  like  it  when  warbled  by  such  attractive 
lips,"  replied  the  officer. 

Then  the  banjoist  without  played  a  Spanish 
dance.  Jaqueline's  body  began  to  vibrate. 
But,  though  alive  in  every  limb,  she  did  not 
dance.  There  was  something  tantalizing  in  a 
promised  treat  that  was  not  realized. 

"  Dance !"  cried  the  captain,  an  expectant 
look  in  his  handsome  eyes. 

"Slialll?" 

"  Do,  please,"  I  put  in. 

As  a  bird  that  lias  been  soaring  slowly  sails 
away  in  its  expected  course,  Jaqueline  passed 
from  comparative  rest  to  motion.  In  another 
moment  she  was  moving  about  the  hall  with 
improvised  steps,  as  though  dancing  was,  to 
use  a  paradoxical  expression,  her  normal  con- 
dition of  rest.  She  floated,  drooped,  rose,  rest- 
ed, keeping  time  with  her  head,  her  arms,  her 
whole  body.  For  a  while  I  Avas  so  delighted 
that  I  forgot  all  except  the  dance,  and  when  I 
bethought  myself  to  look  at  the  captain  it 
was  easy  to  see  that  the  thrall  Jaqueline  had 
been  weaving  about  him  was  complete. 

"  Jaqueline !" 

Miss  Pinkley  had  entered  the  hall  and  stood 
looking  at  her  severely.     Jaqueline  stopped  as 


66  SWEET    REVENGE 

suddenly  as  if  she  had  been  moved  by  electric- 
ity and  the  current  had  been  turned  off. 

"  I'm  astonished  at  yo',''  said  the  lady. 
"  Yo've  made  the  acquaintance  of  these  gen- 
tlemen only  this  afternoon,  and  here  yo'  are 
dancing  befo'  them  as  if  yo'  were  a  soubrette 
in  a  theatre." 

"  My  dear  madam,"  I  interposed,  "  you  have 
no  idea  of  the  pleasure  she  has  given  us.  She 
would  be  a  grand  success  on  any  stage." 

"Do  yo'  think  so?"  queried  Jaqueline, 
triumphantly.  "  I'd  love  to  dance  on  the 
stage." 

"Jaqueline!"  again  cried  Miss  Pinkley. 

"What's  the  harm,  auntie?  I'm  not  on  the 
stage." 

"  Yes,  but  you  want  to  be.  To  think  of  a 
Rutland  on  the  stage !  Yo'  pa  would  be  mavv- 
tified  to  death." 

She  passed  up- stairs,  and  Jaqueline  began 
affain  to  rattle  on  in  her  singular  wav.  Sud- 
denly  it  struck  her  that  she  w^anted  Ginger's 
banjo,  and,  calling  Cynthia,  she  sent  her  for  it. 
Then,  after  testing  the  strings,  she  began  to 
play  and  sing.  The  music  was  light  but  sweet, 
being  composed  chiefly  of  those  unique  negro 
melodies,  born  under  the  slave  system  as  deli- 


AN   AMATEUR    SOUBKETTE  67 

cate  plants  sometimes  spring  up  among  poi- 
sonous weeds. 

Without  warning  she  put  the  banjo  down 
and  began  to  talk  again,  skipping  from  one 
subject  to  another,  astonishing  us  by  her  con- 
fidences, sometimes  asking  questions  but  sel- 
dom waiting  for  an  answer.  Presentl}^  I  spoke 
of  my  stay  at  the  Stanforths. 

"  The  Stanforths  !"  she  cried.  "  Do  you 
know  'em  ?" 

"  Yes ;  do  you  ?" 

"  Ought  to  ;  they're  my  cousins.  Did  you 
see  Minerva  ?" 

"No.     Who's  Minerva?" 

"Her  real  name  is  Helen,  We  called  her 
Minerva  at  school.  I  went  to  school  with  her 
two  vears.     She's  older  than  I,  though." 

"I  have  met  Miss  Helen  Stanforth." 

"  If  you  refer  to  the  young  lad}'^  we  met  to- 
da}^,"  the  captain  remarked,  "  she's  a  ver}'-  beau- 
tiful and  high-bred  woman  —  much  like  our 
Geowgia  beauties." 

"  She  knows  ever3"thing,"  said  Jaqueline ; 
"  theology,  geology,  biology,  psychology.  Any 
more  of  'em  ?" 

"  That's  quite  enough,"  I  admitted. 

"Did  vou  see  Buck?" 


68  SWEET   REVENGE 

"  Oh  yes ;  Buck  and  I  became  quite  friendly." 

"  Friendly  !    Buck  was  born  to  be  hanged." 

"  What  makes  you  think  that  ?" 

"  Most  fiery,  pestiferous  little  imp  yo'  ever 
saw!     Doesn't  stop  at  anything." 

"Mere  flashes  of  a  strong  nature.  When 
he  grows  up  he'll  control  it  and  be  all  the 
stronger  for  it." 

"Think  so?  If  he  was  black  and  I  owned 
him,  I'd  have  him  whipped  every  day." 

A  colored  woman  came  in  and  told  the  cap- 
tain that  Miss  Pinkley  presented  her  compli- 
ments, and  a  room  was  ready  for  him  when- 
ever he  chose  to  occupy  it.  She  also  informed 
him  that  I  could  have  a  room. 

"  Captain,"  I  said,  "  I  have  no  reason  to  get 
away  from  you.  Indeed,  I  wouldn't  leave 
your  guardianship  just  now  for  a  plantation. 
The  man  who  has  accused  me  is  in  league  with 
others  who  are  interested  in  getting  me  out  of 
the  wa}^  Now  if  you'll  permit  me  to  go  to 
bed  without  a  guard  I'll  give  you  my  word  of 
honor  not  to  leave  this  house  till  after  the 
watch  has  been  resumed  to-morrow." 

"  Now,  captain,"  put  in  Jaqueline,  before  the 
officer  could  reply,  "let  the  poo'  man  go  to 
bed." 


AN    AMATEDR   SOUBEETTE  69 

"  Fo'  yo'  sake  ?"  he  asked,  looking  at  her 
with  an  expression  half  admiring,  half  comical. 

"  Fo'  my  sake,  fo'  3^0'  sake,  fo'  everybody's 
sake." 

She  went  up  in  front  of  him,  and,  putting 
her  little  oval  face  within  a  few  inches  of  his, 
brought  her  snapping  eyes  to  bear  on  him,  and 
stood  waiting  for  liis  decision. 

"  "Well,  I  reckon  I  must  let  yo'  have  yo'  way. 
Yo're  too  pretty  to  qua' el  Avith." 

She  clapped  her  hands.  "  I  knew  it !  Love- 
liest man  I  ever  met !  Too  sweet  for  any- 
thing !" 

The  captain  smiled  that  pleasant,  indolent 
smile  of  his,  looking  at  me  at  the  same  time,  as 
much  as  to  sa}^,  "  What  a  deliciously  odd 
creature,"  while  Jaqueline  disappeared  as  sud- 
denly as  an  actress  who  had  finished  her  part. 
Ginger  came  in  with  a  decanter  and  glasses, 
which  he  placed  on  the  table.  The  captain 
sat  down  before  the  wine  and  invited  me  to 
join  him. 

"  Miss  Rutland  is  ce'tainly  a  dainty  little 
thing,"  he  said,  as  "he  took  the  stopper  from 
the  decanter  and  filled  our  glasses. 

"  She  certainly  is." 

"  Most  charming  creature  I  ever  saw." 


70  SWEET   KEVENGE 

"  What  a  soubrette  she  would  make !" 

"  Ravishing-.  Fill  yo'  glass,  sir ;  ravishing. 
Do  yo'  know,  I  never  saw  mo'  graceful  danc- 
in  o^  on  the  stage  ?" 

"  Nor  I." 

"  And  what  a  sweet  little  voice !" 

"  The  notes  of  a  bird." 

By  this  time  I  had  made  up  my  mind  that  it 
would  be  impossible  to  get  the  captain  on  any 
other  subject  than  Jaqueline,  and  he  talked 
of  iier  the  rest  of  the  evening — indeed,  till  he 
had  finished  the  decanter.  I  could  not  but  be 
amused  at  the  transition  Jaqueline  had  wrought 
in  his  treatment  of  me.  It  occurred  to  me  to 
test  his  good-nature  still  further. 

"Captain,"  I  remarked,  "I'm  caught  away 
from  home  with  a  thin  pocket-book  ;  could  you 
let  me  have  a  hundred  dollars  till  I  can  get  to 
where  there  is  a  bank  ?" 

"  Certainly,  sir,  with  pleasure ;  no  trouble  at 
all,"  and,  pulling  out  a  thick  roll  of  Confeder- 
ate bills,  he  tossed  them  over  to  me. 

"  Captain,"  I  said,  pushing  back  the  bills,  "  I 
don't  need  money.  I  only  wanted  to  see  if  it 
were  possible  for  a  man  to  order  another  out 
to  be  shot  in  the  afternoon  and  do  him  a  favor 
in  the  evening.'' 


AN    AMATEUR    SOUBEETTE  71 

"  My  dear  sir,"  he  replied,  "  permit  me  to 
apologize  for  my  hasty  action.  I  give  yo'  the 
word  of  a  Geowgia  gentleman,  that  had  not 
that  delightful  little  creature  interposed  I 
should  now  deeply  regret  the  execution  of  my 
order." 

"  You  mean  my  execution." 

"  Yo'  very  good  health,  sir,  and  that  of  the 
little  lady." 

The  decanter  was  empty.  Ginger,  the  ma- 
jordorao,  appeared,  assisted  the  captain  up- 
stairs to  one  of  the  main  chambers  in  the  cen- 
tre of  the  house,  then  conducted  me  through  a 
hall  to  a  wing,  and  ushered  me  into  the  apart- 
ment intended  for  me. 


VII 
MIDNIGHT 

What  faded  splendor!  All  the  furniture 
was  mahogany ;  the  bed,  a  huge  four-poster, 
canopied ;  the  bureau  high  and  Avith  brass 
handles  to  its  drawers ;  the  chairs  straight- 
backed  ;  from  the  centre  of  the  ceilino^  huno^  a 
chandelier  of  glass  pendants.  All  this  antique 
magnificence  was  lighted  by  the  single  tallow 
dip  which  also  glistened  upon  the  honest  face 
of  Ginger. 

"  I  hope  yo'  berry  corafolem,  sah,"  said  Gin- 
ger, setting  down  the  candle  and  turning  to 
depart. 

"No  doubt  of  it.  Wait  a  bit;  I  want  you 
to  tell  me  to  whom  this  plantation  belongs." 

"  Gunnel  Rutland,  sah." 

"Been  in  this  family  long?" 

"  A  thousand  years,  sah." 

"What?" 

"  Don't  know  nothen'  'bout  counten' ;  spec 


MIDNIGHT  73 

it's  been  in  de  fanvly  mighty  long  time.  Gun- 
nel Rutland,  be  inigbty  fine  genTman,  sab. 
Gunnel  Rutland,  be  own  ten  bundred  t'ousand 
acres — ^" 

"  How  many  ?" 

"  De  biggest  plantation  in  all  Alabama,  sab. 
Gunnel  Rutland  be  de  biggest — " 

"  Wait  a  bit.  Ginger.  "Wbo  is  Miss  Pink- 
ley?" 

"Missy  Pinkley,  sbe  migbty  fine  lady,  sab. 
Missy  Pinkley,  sbe — " 

"  Wbat  relation  is  sbe  to  Golonel  Rutland  ?" 

''  Missy  Pinkley,  sbe  war  Missy  Rutland's 
sistab,  sab.     Missy  Pinkley,  sbe — " 

"  Wbere  is  Mrs.  Rutland  ?" 

"  Missy  Rutland,  she's  daid." 

"  Who  is  Miss  Jaqueline  ?" 

"  Missy  Jack,  she's  de  fust  3'oung  lady  in  de 
Souf,  sab.  When  Missy  Jack  go  to  de  planters' 
balls,  and  de  city  balls  in  Huntsville,  she  tak' 
all  de  young  men  away  from  de  udder  young 
ladies,  an'  mak'  'em  all  mad  'nuff  to  eat  her  up." 

"  Sbe  is  Golonel  Rutland's  daughter,  I  sup- 
pose ?" 

"  Yes,  sab.  Missy  Jack  de  apple  ob  Gunnel 
Rutland's  eye,  sab.  Gunnel  Rutland  don'  care 
nuffen  'bout  nobody  but  Missy  Jack." 


74  SWEET    REVENGE 

"  How  about  you  colored  people  ?" 

"  What  dat,  sail  V 

"  Do  you  like  Miss  Jaqueline  ?" 

"  Like  Missy  Jack !  Reckon  de  culled  peo- 
ple do  like  Missy  Jack.  Culled  people  lub 
Missy  Jack  like  de  angel  ob — " 

"  Isn't  she  just  a  bit  hot-tempered  V 

"Reckon  Missy  Jack  is  hot-tempered,  sah. 
Missy  Jack,  she  got  de  hottest  temper  in  de 
whole  Souf.     Missy  Jack,  she — " 

"  Hold  on ;  explain  why  you  all  love  Miss 
Jack  when  she  has  a  hot  temper  and  speaks 
to  you  so  sharply." 

"  Laws-a-massy,  she  don'  mean  nuffen.  Missy 
Jack,  she  scol'  wid  de  firebrand  in  de  eye,  but 
she  won'  let  nobody  else  scol',  Yo'  ought  to 
see  dat  gal  when  Mars'r  Bingham  —  Mars'r 
Bin^i^ham,  he  de  oberseer  —  Mars'r  Bingham 
whip  de  niggers.  One  day  Mars'r  Bingham 
he  whip  me.  I  yelled  like  a  killed  nigger. 
Missy  Jack,  she  run  out  wid  her  hair  a-flying 
and  her  eyes  a-shinen',  and  she  tak'  de  whip  out 
o'  Mars'r  Bingham's  ban',  an' — golly  Moses ! 
— how  she  lay  it  on  dat  oberseer!" 

"Did  he  take  it  kindly?" 

"i7<3  couldn't  do  nuffen;  ef  he  tech  Missy 
Jack,  Gunnel  Rutland  shoot  him.   Gunnel  Rut- 


MIDNIGHT  75 

land,  he  got  de  biggest  temper,  'cept  Missy 
Jack  —  ain't  nobody  got  temper  lak  Missy 
Jack  in — " 

"  Any  more  Rutlands  V 

"  No,  sah.  Ain't  dat  'nuff  —  all  dem  mighty 
fine  people  ?" 

"  Quite  enough.  Now  you  may  go,  Gin- 
ger." 

Ginger  departed  with  a  frown  that  I  should 
have  called  for  more  such  people  as  the  Rut- 
lands,  and  somewhat  disappointed,  I  fancied, 
at  not  being  able  to  impress  me  with  the  mag- 
nitude of  the  family  temper.  I  closed  the 
door  behind  him  and  locked  it. 

"  John  Branderstane,"  I  said,  looking  at  the 
dim  reflection  of  my  body  in  one  of  the  great 
mirrors,  "had  it  not  been  for  that  little  girl 
down-stairs  your  being  would  now  be  no  more 
real  than  that  image.'  Never  have  you  had 
so  close  a  call,  and  you'll  never  have  another 
so  close  without  it  being  the  last.  But  you've 
no  time  to  waste.  Your  situation  will  be  more 
critical  with  the  rising  sun  than  it  is  this  min- 
ute.    Something  must  be  done." 

I  went  to  a  window.  It  was  at  the  end  of 
the  building.  My  room  was  on  the  second 
story  of  tlie  house,  at  no  great  height  from 


76  SWEET    REVENGE 

the  ground.  I  turned  from  the  window  to 
another  facing  the  rear ;  they  were  all  open, 
for  the  weather  was  warm  and  sultr3^  At 
this  second  window  was  something  which  at- 
tracted my  attention  at  once — a  tree  growing 
so  near  that  I  could  easily  step  into  its 
branches  and  descend  to  the  ground. 

"Thank  Heaven,  here  is  an  avenue  of  es- 
cape !" 

But  my  pledge. 

It  is  questionable  if  those  moral  heroes 
who  prefer  death  to  dishonor  would  choose 
the  former  if  the  alternative  were  presented 
as  it  was  to  me.  Death  in  the  form  it  awaited 
me  certainlv  looked  very  ugly.  If  I  kept  my 
word  and  remained  till  morning  my  identity 
was  sure  to  come  out.  If  fortune  enabled  me 
to  conceal  it,  if  the  captain  permitted  me  to 
go  my  way,  I  was  sure  to  fall  into  the  hands 
of  my  enemies.  By  leaving  in  the  night  I 
could  give  both  the  slip,  and  by  morning  be 
far  away  or  so  disguised  that  I  should  not  be 
recognized  if  found.  I  might  possibly  reach 
the  Union  lines. 

I  had  never  before  broken  a  pledge  ;  but  I 
had  never  before  seen  certain  death  starino- 
me  in  the  face.    In  the  ordinary  affairs  of  life, 


MIDNIGHT  77 

I  reasoned,  one  should  have  a  high  standard, 
but  in  a  matter  of  life  or  death—  Besides, 
who  ever  heard  of  one  carrying  information 
in  war  stopping  at  a  lie  or  the  violation  of  a 
pledge  ? 

Placing  my  foot  on  the  sill,  I  was  reaching 
for  a  branch  of  the  tree  without  when  I  sud- 
denly stepped  back  into  the  room,  sat  down 
in  a  chair,  and  buried  ni}''  face  in  my  hands. 
A  vision  of  Ethel  Stanforth,  sweet,  gentle,  in- 
nocent, stood  before  me.  As  a  flash  of  lio^ht- 
ning  will  clear  a  murky  atmosphere,  my 
human  reasoning  vanished  before  a  divine  in- 
tuition.    I  could  not  break  my  pledge. 

Then  I  fell  to  thinking.  How  difficult  it 
is,  after  all,  to  look  into  the  future ;  who 
knows  but  some  new  outlet  may  occur  to- 
morrow ?  This  captain  is  a  singular  man,  and 
no  one  can  tell  what  whim  may  seize  him 
next.  To-day  he  ordered  me  out  to  be  shot ; 
to-morrow  he  may  send  me  away  from  my 
enemies  with  an  escort  to  protect  me.  Then 
there  is  little  Jaqueline.  She  has  slipped  a 
noose  about  his  neck  that  he  will  not  easily 
shake  off.  She  may  find  a  hiding-place  for  me, 
or  an  avenue  which  will  eventually  lead  to  safe- 
ty.    I  Avas  so  pleased  with  the  probabilities  I 


78  SWEET   KEVENGE 

conjured  up  that  I  got  up  and  walked  back 
and  forth,  rubbing  ray  hands  with  satisfac- 
tion. 

Fool !  stupid  human  fool !  The  events  fate 
had  in  store  for  me  were  nothing,  as  my  fore- 
sight had  painted. 

I  heard  a  tramp  of  horses'  hoofs  coming 
through  the  gatewa}''.  Going  to  a  front  win- 
dow and  looking  out,  I  saw  two  figures  on 
horseback.  It  was  too  dark  for  me  to  distin- 
guish them ;  though  one  was  very  small,  the 
other  seemed  to  be  a  woman,  for  I  could  see 
her  garments  fluttering.  They  came  canter- 
ing down  the  roadway  to  the  gallery,  and  must 
have  dismounted,  for  soon  I  heard  a  knocking. 
Leaving  the  chamber,  I  went  through  the  hall 
on  tiptoe  and  stood  at  the  head  of  the  great 
staircase,  listening.  There  were  voices  below, 
but  I  could  not  tell  whose  they  were.  I  waited 
some  time  for  more  information,  but  those 
who  were  talking  went  into  another  part  of 
the  house,  and  I  was  obliged  to  return  to  my 
room  unsatisfied.  I  sat  down  again  and  re- 
newed my  musings — musings  that  were  not  of 
the  pleasantest. 

I  had  not  sat  long  when  two  men  passed 
-tmder  the  window.      They  were  talking  in  a 


MIDNIGHT  79 

low  tone.  The  voice  of  one  was  that  of  a 
white  man,  the  other  that  of  a  negro.  The 
negro  said  something  which  was  inaudible; 
then  the  white  man  asked : 

"Which  wing?" 

"  Dar." 

Is  not  that  Jaycox's  voice  ?  It  is ;  there  is 
no  mistaking  that  harsh  growl.  AVhat  can  it 
mean  ?  Ah  !  I  see  it  all.  He  expects  that  I 
will  elude  this  easy-going  captain,  and  he  Avill 
spread  a  net  for  the  bird  before  it  flies.  Fort- 
unate !  If  I  had  descended  by  the  tree  I 
should  have  dropped  into  his  embrace. 

My  anxiety  was  now  more  intense  than 
ever.  The  cords  were  surel}^  drawing  about 
me. 

"Nonsense!"  I  said  to  mvself;  "I'm  losing; 
my  head.  True,  I'm  in  a  tight  place;  but 
tight  places  are  interesting.  Men  who  pos- 
sess great  presence  of  mind  are  best  fitted  to 
escape  great  dangers.  When  the  cards  run 
high  the  coolest  wins.  I  propose  to  defeat 
all  these  conv'^erging  enemies  by  keeping  my 
head.  I  shall  go  to  bed  and  get  a  good  sleep. 
Then  on  the  moiTow  I  shall  be  in  shape  for  the 
fight." 

My  resolution,  together  with  the  fatigue  of 


80  SWEET    KEVENGE 

an  eventful  day,  brought  slumber  sooner  than 
might  have  been  expected.  But  I  soon  awoke, 
and,  having  awakened,  was  wide  awake.  I  sat 
up  in  bed.  I  could  look  out  of  the  window 
into  the  tree  which  had  invited  me  to  descend 
by  its  branches.  I  thought  I  saw  a  dark 
object  that  did  not  belong  there.  The  leaves 
were  not  far  enough  advanced  to  conceal,  nor 
young  enough  to  fully  reveal  any  object  hid- 
den there.  The  night  was  not  one  of  the 
darkest,  yet  there  was  a  little  light — starlight, 
and  no  moon. 

"  Imaginary  terrors !"  I  muttered.  "  Go  to 
sleep." 

I  lay  down,  drew  the  sheet  up,  tucked  it  in 
at  the  back  of  my  neck,  and  obeyed  the  com- 
mand I  had  given  myself  by  passing  back  into 
slumber. 

I  dreamed  that  I  was  standing  under  a  great 
glass  receiver,  and  a  man  was  working  a  pump 
to  exhaust  the  air.  At  every  stroke  I  felt  less 
able  to  breathe,  till  at  last  I  was  suffocating. 
I  awoke,  and  was  conscious  of  some  one  stuffing 
a  cloth  into  my  mouth.  I  tried  to  cry  out, 
but  could  make  no  sound.  Two  men  stood 
beside  me,  one  gagging  me,  while  the  other 
began    to  tie    my    hands.       This   done,  they 


MIDNIGHT  81 

carried  me,  irapotently  writhing,  to  the  win- 
dow. 

"  Bring  them  clothes,  Pete,"  said  one  of  the 
men  ;  "  he'll  give  us  away  without  'em." 

It's  Tom  Jaycox !     I'm  lost ! 

The  man  called  Pete  snatched  my  clothes 
and  threw  them  out  on  the  ground  below. 
Then  the  two  began  the  work  of  getting  me 
through  the  window.  Jaycox,  who  had  the 
strength  of  an  ox,  seizing  my  Avrists,  while  the 
man  behind  pushed.  They  got  me  out  into 
the  limbs  of  the  tree,  where,  if  I  continued  to 
struggle,  I  was  in  danger,  bound  hand  and 
foot  as  I  was,  of  pounding  the  earth  below.  I 
made  a  virtue  of  necessity  and  permitted  them 
to  lower  me.  Once  on  the  ground  they  hus- 
tled me  to  a  clump  of  trees  back  of  the  house, 
where  I  was  unbound,  and,  covered  by  the 
muzzles  of  two  revolvers,  forced  to  put  on  my 
clothes.  Then  they  rebound  my  wrists  and 
ran  me  behind  the  barn,  where  two  horses 
stood  ready  saddled.  Jaycox  took  me  in  his 
steel  arms  and  tossed  me  on  to  one  of  them 
with  as  much  ease  as  if  I  had  been  a  bag  of 
meal.  The  two  men  mounted  the  other  horses 
and  we  started  off,  circling  around  back  of  the 
negro   huts   and    under  trees  to  a  side  gate 

6 


82  SWEET   REVENGE 

opening  on  the  pike.     Once  away  from  the 
grounds  we  set  off  at  a  gallop. 

Kidnapped !  Now  I  may  save  myself  any 
further  worry.  The  inevitable  is  before  me. 
Before  daylight  I  shall  be  a  dead  man. 


VIII 
ON  THE  PLATEAU 

On,  on  we  sped,  under  starlight,  over  stony 
pike,  steel-shod  hoofs  striking  fire  on  flinty 
stones,  snake  fences  writhing,  trees  dancing  in 
a  semicircle  about  those  beyond.  We  dashed 
over  wooden  bridges ;  we  splashed  through 
shallow  streams ;  we  dipped  into  hollows  and 
tilted  over  crests,  while  now  and  again  some 
startled  bird  stretched  its  wings  and  went 
whirring  into  the  forest. 

On  my  right  rode  Tom  Jaycox,  holding  my 
bridle-rein,  his  ugly  face  turned  always  towards 
me.  Every  crime-moulded  feature — his  cold, 
steel  eye,  his  knitted,  overhanging  brows, 
spoke  one  word:  "  Vengeance !"  On  the  other 
side  galloped  a  man,  long,  lean,  hungry,  grind- 
ing uneasily  on  a  quid.  I  did  not  know  his 
name,  but  memory  brought  me  a  picture  of 
that  same  face  lighted  by  shot-guns  flashing 
in  the  night. 


84  SWEET   REVENGE 

Our  breakneck  speed  lasted  till  we  had  put 
some  miles  between  us  and  the  plantation, 
then  we  slackened  our  pace  and  wallced  our 
panting  horses  till  the}^  had  partl}^  recovered 
their  wind,  then  struck  a  trot.  It  was  imma- 
terial to  me  at  what  gait  we  moved,  I  thought 
only  of  my  approaching  end.  Surely  it  could 
not  be  far  distant.  Why  did  it  not  come 
at  once?  A  pistol-ball,  a  club — anything  is 
enough  to  take  a  life.  Then  I  shuddered 
as  the  thought  struck  me  that  I  was  to  be 
kept  for  a  more  lingering  death. 

We  were  passing  between  a  range  of  hills 
on  our  left  and  the  Cumberland  plateau  on  our 
riofht  when  Javcox  drew  rein  and  we  all  came 
to  a  halt.  There  was  a  sound  of  horses'  hoofs 
behind,  coming  at  a  brisk  canter;  but  no  soon- 
er had  we  stopped  than  the  sounds  ceased. 
Both  the  men  listened  until  all  was  silent,  then 
Jay  cox  started  on. 

"  All  right,  Pete,"  he  said.  "  Whoever  it  is 
has  either  stopped  or  left  the  road." 

"  Some  un  goen'  home  late,  I  reckon." 

We  proceeded  on  our  way,  but  had  gone 
scarcely  a  quarter  of  a  mile  when  we  again 
heard  the  hoof-beats  in  our  rear.  Again  we 
pulled  up  and  listened. 


ON    THE    PLATEAU  85 

"  By  gosh,  Tom,"  said  Pete,  "thet  beats  me!" 

"Shet  up!" 

Both  listened,  waiting  to  hear  the  sounds 
renewed,  but  as  they  were  not  we  started  on. 
For  the  second  time  the  hoof-beats  recom- 
menced, and  this  time  a  little  nearer. 

"  We  must  git  outen  this,"  said  Jaycox. 
"Let's  take  to  the  hills  here  instead  o'  furder 
on." 

Turning  to  the  right  Ave  passed  through  tim- 
ber, beginning  a  gradual  ascent  of  the  plateau. 
Jaycox  rode  ahead,  holding  my  bridle-rein, 
while  Pete  followed,  revolver  in  hand. 

Who  were  on  the  road  I  knew  no  more  than 
my  abductors,  but  as  a  drowning  man  will 
catch  at  a  straw  I  cast  about  for  some  method 
of  letting  them  know  of  our  digression.  Bend- 
ing low  in  the  saddle,  I  peered  through  the 
gloom,  watching  for  something  with  which  to 
produce  sound,  for  my  gag  prevented  my 
shouting,  and  a  shout  would  have  brought 
punishment.  Coming  upon  a  flat  rock,  by  a 
pressure  of  the  knees  I  guided  my  horse  over 
it,  but  it  was  too  firmly  imbedded  to  be  moved. 
Soon  after  I  encountered  another,  right  on  the 
edge  of  the  trail.  Digging  my  heels  into  my 
horse's  flanks  and  throwing  my  body  out  of 


86  SWEET    KEVEXGE 

equilibrium  I  forced  him  to  prance.  A  vigor- 
ous pull  on  my  bridle-rein  by  Jaycox  saved 
him  from  going  over  the  inchne,  carrying  me 
with  him.  But  I  had  accomplished  my  pur- 
pose, I  heard  the  stone  go  crashing  down  the 
mountain. 

"  You  infernal  dog,"  cried  the  man  in  the 
rear,  "  ef  yer  do  thet  agin  I'll  run  a  knife 
atwixt  yer  shoulders  !" 

"  Ef  he  does  't  agin  yer  needn't  trouble  yer- 
self  to  stick  him  ;  the  fall  ud  finish  him." 

Higher,  higher,  we  mounted,  farther  from 
the  dark  plain  below,  upon  which  here  and 
there  shone  a  lonely  light ;  nearer  to  the 
patches  of  fleece  in  the  heavens,  and  the  stars 
looking  down  from  above.  Then  came  a  faint 
light  in  the  sky  and  a  gray  tinge  over  the 
country  below.  Woods,  streams,  fields,  houses, 
barns,  grew  out  of  the  darkness.  The  light 
broadened,  there  were  gilded  clouds  in  the 
east,  the  sun  cast  its  first  beams  over  the 
heights  and  upon  the  landscape  below.  We 
had  reached  the  upper  level ;  w^e  were  on  the 
plateau. 

Espying  a  log-house  ahead,  the  men  consult- 
ed, and  determined  to  try  for  some  breakfast. 
They  took  the  gag  out  of  my  mouth,  and  as 


ON   THE    PLATEAU 


soon  as  I  was  free  to  speak,  anxious  to  be  at 
once  put  beyond  suffering  and  the  terrible  sus- 
pense of  an  impending  murder,  I  cried  : 

"You  dogs!  you  cowards!  vou're  ffoino^ 
to  kill  me  !     ^^^hy  do  you  delay  ?" 

They  looked  at  each  other  knowingly  and 
grinned — a  horrible,  soulless  grin, 

"  D'  y'  reckon  yer  goen'  to  git  ter  heaven 
without  payen'  fo'  th'  damage  y'  done?'' 
snarled  Jaycox,  with  an  ugly  light  in  his  eye. 

"Ah,  that's  your  game  !" 

"  We  know  you  uns  ter  be  as  well  fixed  fo' 
property  as  any  young  man  in  Tennessee.  An' 
we're  goen'  to  hev  a  slice  too.  But  yer  needn't 
reckon  thet's  goen'  ter  save  y'.  Yer  got  ter 
shell  out,  'n  then — "    His  look  told  the  rest. 

"  Give  me  one  shot  with  mv  back  against  a 
tree,  and  I'll  fight  two  such  cowards  as  you." 

"  Shet  up !"  snapped  Jaycox,  showing  his 
teeth  within  a  foot  of  my  face,  and  with  a 
glance  like  that  of  an  angry  bulldog.  Then, 
riding  up  to  the  entrance  of  the  hut,  he  shout- 
ed: 

"  Hello  thar !" 

An  old  woman  came  to  the  door  with  an 
iron  spoon  in  her  hand. 

"  Wall,  what's  wanted  ?" 


88  SWEET    REVENGE 

"  Snack." 

"Hain't  got  nothen'  but  pone." 

"  Got  any  cofiFee  ?" 

"Coffee?  D'  y'  reckon  Abe  Lincoln's  goen' 
ter  let  us  hev  coffee  away  up  in  these  moun- 
tings, when  they  hain't  got  none  down  in  th' 
towns?  I  got  a  yarb  '11  do  purty  wal, 
though." 

My  captors  dismounted,  breakfasted,  then 
arranged  for  a  short  nap,  one  watching  Avhile 
the  other  slept.  Jaycox  first  sprawled  him- 
self on  the  ground,  and  was  asleep  in  a  twink- 
ling, while  his  comrade  sat  staring  at  me  with, 
his  gun  ready  cocked.  I  knew  that  if  I  made 
the  slightest  movement  with  a  view  to  escape 
he  would  shoot  me.  Occasionally  he  looked 
impatiently  at  a  handsome  gold  watch — doubt- 
less taken  in  spoil — as  if  anxious  for  the  expi- 
ration of  his  hour  of  duty.  Towards  the  last 
he  nodded.  I  was  near  some  low  bushes  and 
began  to  roll  towards  them.  He  awoke  w4th 
a  start,  and,  quick  as  a  flash,  brought  his  gun 
to  his  shoulder. 

"  Yo'  hound  !" 

Jaycox  opened  his  eyes,  and,  seeing  a  mur- 
derous look  in  his  companion's  face,  and  a  gun 
right  over  his  foot  pointed  at  me,  kicked  the 


ON    THE    PLATEAU  89 

weapon  upward,  discharging  it,  thus  doubt- 
less for  the  time  saving  ray  life. 

This  finished  the  first  watch,  and  Ja3"cox 
took  his  turn,  admonishing  me  that  if  I  tried 
the  experiment  again  he  would  tie  me  up  by 
the  thumbs.  I  dreaded  this  torture,  and  gave 
him  no  cause  to  enforce  it ;  besides,  he  kept 
awake  during  his  entire  watch. 

The  men  having  secured  the  needed  rest,  we 
broke  our  bivouac,  Ja3xox  loosened  the  horses, 
and  his  companion  kept  me  covered  with  his 
gun  while  I  mounted.  xVs  I  put  my  foot  in  the 
stirrup  I  happened  to  glance  aside  and  saw 
two  horsemen  approaching.  In  a  moment  I 
recoo:nized  Buck  Stanforth  and  Ginger.  Ilow 
they  came  to  be  there  was  a  mystery.  I  only 
knew  they  were  there,  and  rejoiced.  At  seeing 
me  Buck  was  about  to  give  a  shout,  when  he 
bethought  himself  that  such  a  proceeding 
might  be  fatal,  and  regained  his  composure 
just  as  his  presence  was  discovered.  Ginger 
showed  no  signs  of  recognition  whatever.  I 
shot  a  quick  glance  at  Jaycox,  to  see  if  he  rec- 
oirnized  the  negro.  To  mv  relief  he  did  not 
appear  to  know  either  Buck  or  Ginger. 

"  Say,  yo'  men,"  called  Back,  "  can  we  get 
somepin  to  eat  hyar  ?*' 


90  SWEET    EEVENGE 

"  Ef  thar's  any  vittels  left,"  said  Jaycox, 
"  What  you  uns  doen'  out  this  time  o'  day  V 

"  Oh,"  said  Buck — I  trembled  lest  his  wits 
should  desert  him  at  a  critical  moment — "  I'm 
taken'  this  nigger  to  his  new  master.  He's 
sold." 

"  Yer  a  peart  'un  ter  deliver  a  nigger ;  reck- 
on he  don't  mind  goen'  witli  yer." 

Buck  and  Ginger  dismounted  as  we  depart- 
ed, I  was  obliged  to  part  with  them  without 
being:  able  to  utter  a  word  or  make  a  sign. 
Still  their  presence  gave  me  hope.  Hope ! 
What  could  a  simple  negro  and  a  boy  do  to 
rescue  me  from  two  stalwart  brutes  who  were 
watching  me  like  cats? 

All  day  we  moved  northward,  the  men  rid- 
ing close  beside  me,  now  and  again  turning 
their  ugly  faces  towards  me  with  a  grin  of 
satisfaction,  or  a  scowl  when  I  did  or  said 
anything  to  displease  them,  often  bending 
close  to  me,  sickening  me  with  their  rank  to- 
bacco-smelling:  breaths  or  the  worse  odor  of 
their  unwashed  bodies.  We  met  no  one.  The 
only  comfort  I  derived  was  from  the  natural 
objects  of  the  mountains.  A  red  fox  stole 
away  under  cover,  a  chipmunk,  fearless  and 
free,  sat  on  a  log,  looking  at  us  curiously  as 


ON    THE    PLATEAU  91 

we  passed.  A  budding  wild  rose  brushed 
ray  boot ;  it  was  like  the  kiss  of  a  loving 
companion.  Even  the  twittering  birds  seemed 
to  be  offering  sympathy. 

Towards  evening,  as  the  sun  stood  just 
above  the  horizon,  a  dull  red  ball,  a  shad- 
ow resting  on  the  lower  landscape,  one  of 
my  captors  gave  a  whoop.  It  Avas  answered 
by  a  man  ahead,  and  in  a  moment  a  dozen 
more  started  from  about  a  camp-fire. 

"  Got  him  ?"  yelled  the  foremost  of  the 
group. 

"  Yo'  bet !"' 

With  a  cheer  every  man  sprang  for  his  gun. 

"  Hold  on  thar !"  roared  Jaycox,  with  his 
bull's  voice.  "  Don't  yer  be  fo'gettin'  we're 
goen'  ter  be  paid  fo'  our  losses  fust." 

A  man  b}'^  no  means  as  repulsive  as  the  rest, 
slenderly  built,  with  a  wxak  mouth,  long, 
black  hair,  and  a  beard  through  which  shone 
a  tinge  of  color  on  his  cheek,  stepped  to 
the  front  as  with  authority,  and  it  was  soon 
evident  that  he  w\as  in  command.  He  in- 
quired about  certain  of  the  gang  who  were 
lurking  about  Huntsville.  Jaycox  mentioned 
the  name  "  Ike,"  though  I  could  not  hear  what 
he  said,  w^iereupon   the  captain   turned  and 


92  SWEET    REVENGE 

glanced  at  me.  I  inferred  that  Ike  was  the 
man  who  had  tried  to  kill  me,  and  whom  I 
had  killed  for  his  pains.  Then  the  captain 
and  Jaycox  went  into  a  thicket  near  by,  evi- 
dently for  consultation,  and  were  followed  by 
the  others,  while  I  remained  behind,  still  sit- 
ting on  my  horse,  and  watched  by  Pete,  who 
stood  on  the  ground,  a  great  gaunt  figure,  one 
hand  holding  the  bridle-rein  of  his  horse  as 
he  nipped  the  grass,  the  other  grasping  a 
cocked  revolver.  He  was  looking  at  me  from 
under  his  faded  sombrero,  his  eyes  peering 
into  mine  malignantly,  his  jaws  grinding  on 
his  quid,  the  juice  of  which  soiled  the  corners 
of  his  mouth.  I  could  not  endure  to  look  at 
him,  and  turned  towards  the  landscape  below. 
The  sun  had  set ;  it  was  the  beginning  of 
night.  Was  it  not  the  beginning  for  me  of 
the  eternal  night? 


IX 

FIENDS 

It  was  plain  to  me  that  I  was  in  the  hands 
of  that  terrible  war-time  scourge  of  the  South, 
the  guerrilla.  This  band  had  been  made  up 
in  East  Tennessee,  and  had  moved  out  of  their 
original  stamping-ground  to  get  away  from 
their  old  homes,  and  find  a  better  field  for 
pillage.  From  the  Cumberland  plateau  they 
could  swoop  down  towards  Xashville,  Mur- 
freesborough,  McMinnville,  Shelbyville,  Fay- 
ette, or  Huntsville,  and,  if  chased,  could  easily 
take  to  the  mountains,  where  it  was  difficult 
to  follow  them.  On  one  of  their  forays  Tom 
Jaycox  and  Pete  Halliday  had  got  wind  of 
my  whereabouts,  and,  with  several  of  the  gang, 
including  the  man  I  had  shot,  had  gone  down 
to  look  after  rae.  The  country  in  and  about 
Huntsville  was  too  civilized  for  open  assassi- 
nation, and  Jaycox,  after  the  failure  of  the 
attempt  on  my  life,  had  procured  my  arrest 


94  SWEET   REVENGE 

as  a  spy.  Then  followed  the  plan  to  kidnap 
me  and  force  me  into  a  pa^'^ment  of  money 
before  the  final  revenge. 

We  bivouacked  where  we  had  met  the  band 
on  the  plateau,  under  the  trees  that  waved 
above  us,  their  sprouting  leaves  lighted  up  by 
our  camp-fire.  I  lay  awake  the  greater  part 
of  the  night,  watching  for  an  opportunity  to 
escape,  but  one  sentry  after  another  was  placed 
over  me,  and  morning  came  without  my  hav- 
ing made  the  attempt. 

At  sunrise  we  moved  northward  as  on  the 
day  before,  my  captors  still  keeping  a  strict 
watch  over  me.  During  the  day  Ja3'^cox 
pushed  on  in  advance  ;  why,  1  did  not  know, 
but  surmised  that  his  going  had  something  to 
do  with  the  plan  to  plunder  me. 

The  mountains  seemed  deserted.  Not  a 
human  being  did  we  see  save  two  women 
and  a  negro,  all  on  horseback,  travelling  in 
the  same  direction  as  ourselves.  I  caught 
several  glimpses  of  them,  though  always  at 
a  distance,  and  wondered  how  it  was  that 
"  poor  white  trash,"  to  which  class  they  ap- 
peared to  belong,  could  afford  the  attendance 
of  a  slave. 

When  we  halted  for   the  night,  which  we 


FIENDS  95 

did  about  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the 
captain  came  up  to  me  and  told  me  they  were 
going  to  take  me  to  a  point  near  my  old  home, 
Knoxville,  where  I  would  be  required  to  sign 
a  check  for  a  large  amount — all  they  could 
squeeze  out  of  me ;  but  if  there  were  not  suffi- 
cient funds  to  my  credit  in  the  bank,  I  must 
execute  papers  that  would  enable  him  to  con- 
vert property  into  money.  If  I  would  do  as 
he  wished  he  would  set  me  free.  This  I  knew" 
to  be  a  lie ;  the  gang  would  find  a  pretext  to 
murder  me  whether  I  signed  the  document  or 
not. 

He  left  me  sitting  on  the  ground,  leaning 
against  a  log,  contemplating  the  horrors  of  my 
situation.  If  I  did  not  pay  my  ransom  I 
should  be  murdered  ;  if  I  paid  it  I  should  be 
murdered ;  it  was  Hobson's  choice.  I  made 
up  my  mind  that  I  would  attempt  to  escape, 
get  shot,  and  thus  end  a  situation  that  was  in- 
flicting on  me  a  mental  torture  far  greater 
than  any  physical  pain  mortal  ever  endured. 

Casting  my  eyes  inadvertently  towards  the 
road,  I  saw  two  women  passing  northward, 
and  in  another  moment  recognized  them  as 
those  I  had  noticed  on  the  march.  To  my  sur- 
prise, one  of  them  turned  and  rode  towards  us ; 


96  SWEET    REV^ENGE 

the  other  hesitated,  started  on,  turned,  and 
followed  her  companion.  I  noticed  something 
familiar  about  their  figures.  The  coarse  text- ' 
ure  of  their  jackets  and  gowns,  and  their  un- 
becoming sunbonnets  were  out  of  keeping 
with  their  graceful  carriage.  "  If  these  women 
knew,"  I  thought,  "that  they  w^ere  entering  a 
guerrilla  camp  they  would  be  stricken  with 
terror.''  When  they  reached  a  point  a  dozen 
yards  distant  they  paused,  the  one  in  advance 
calling,  in  a  harsh  voice  : 

"  Can  you  uns  tell  us  how  fa'  'tis  t'  Tracy  ?" 
Then,  beneath  the  homely  check  bonnet, 
through  the  olive  darkening  of  her  complex- 
ion, under  the  cheap  calico,  I  recognized 
Helen  Stanforth.  Her  quadroon  companion 
was  none  other  than  my  fascinating  little 
friend  who  had  saved  rae  from  the  impetuous 
wrath  of  Captain  Beaumont — Jaqueline  Rut- 
land. 

Had  a  pair  of  angels  come  down  from 
heaven  and  lit  on  my  shoulders  I  could  not 
have  been  more  astonished.  I  rubbed  my 
eyes,  thinking  that  my  vision  deceived  me ;  but 
when  I  looked  again  there  was  Helen  sittino: 
on  her  horse,  chatting  with  the  guerrillas  as  if 
they  were  ordinary  persons,  making  common- 


FIENDS  97 

place  remarks  in  excellent  dialect,  with  which 
a  lonof  residence  near  the  mountains  had  made 
her  familiar.  Jaqueline  remained  a  short 
distance  behind  her.  For  a  while  I  feared 
that  Jaqueline  would  betray  them  both, 
for  I  could  see  that  she  was  trembling.  But 
presently  all  terror  seemed  to  leave  her.  She 
rode  up  beside  Helen  and  began  to  chaff  the 
men,  at  once  attracting  the  attention  of  the 
whole  band. 

"  Yo're  a  likely  gal,"  said  one  of  them.  "  Git 
down  offen  that  critter  and  stay  awhile." 

"  Couldn't  think  on  't." 

"  Oh  yes,  y'  kin."  And  he  walked  up  and 
took  hold  of  her  bridle-rein. 

"Yo'  Jim  Canfield,"  cried  the  captain,  "let 
that  gyrl  alone !" 

The  captain  advanced  and  invited  the  two 
visitors  to  alight,  promising  that  they  should 
be  respected.  Jaqueline  gave  him  a  grateful 
look  as  he  helped  her  off  her  horse  with  far 
more  gallantry  than  might  have  been  expected 
from  the  leader  of  this  gang  of  ruffians.  In- 
deed, there  was  something  in  his  bearing  to 
make  me  suspect  that  this  bandit  captain — 
Ringold  they  called  him,  though  I  suspect  the 
name  was  assumed — was  an  unworthy  mem- 


98  SWEET    REVENGE 

ber  of  some  good  Southern  f;unil3^  who  had 
disgraced  himself  Avith  his  peers  and  become  a 
leader  of  those  w^ho  were,  hke  himself,  devoid 
of  principle,  but  in  other  ways  his  inferiors. 
Jaqueline  must  have  divined  as  much,  for  no 
sooner  was  she  on  terra  firma  than  she  slipped 
her  arm  through  his  and  clung  to  him  confid- 
ingly. Pete  Halliday,  who  seemed  to  be  the 
next  member  of  the  band  in  importance  after 
the  captain,  awkwardly  attempted  to  gain 
some  mark  of  her  favor,  but  Jaqueline,  with 
woman's  quick  intuition,  knew  that  if  any  one 
was  to  be  relied  on  it  Avas  Ringold,  and  de- 
clined attention  from  any  other. 

"  Who  ar'  yo'  ?  Whar  did  yo'  come  from  ? 
What  yo'  doen'  hyar?"  she  asked,  in  her  usual 
quick  way.  "  Hain't  yo'  goen'  t'  join  our  boys 
'n'  fight  fo'  th'  '  Bonny  Blue  Flag'f 

The  captain  looked  a  bit  uncomfortable,  and, 
as  she  had  asked  several  questions  to  which  a 
reply  w^ould  be  in  order,  he  replied  to  none. 

"Can't  yo'  sing  the  'Bonny  Blue  Flag'  fo' 
'em,  Jack  ?"  asked  Helen.  "  Reckon  yo'd  like 
ter  hear  her,"  she  added  to  the  group ;  "  she's 
right  smart  at  singen'." 

"Reckon,"  said  Jack.  "D'  y'  want  ter 
hear  't  ?" 


FIENDS  99 

The  men  were  too  stupid,  or,  rather,  had  not 
the  politeness,  to  say  they  did.  They  stood  and 
gaped.  Jack,  who  I  could  easily  see,  under 
her  enforced  gayety,  was  badly  frightened, 
made  a  desperate  effort  and  began  to  sing,  but 
her  voice  was  so  thin  and  trembling  that  I 
thought  every  moment  slie  would  break  down. 
However,  when  she  came  to  the  last  stanza  she 
had  regained  something  of  confidence,  and. 
ended  the  song  pretty  well. 

She  had  scarcely  finished  when  we  heard  a 
picking  of  banjo  strings.  I  looked  up  and  saw 
a  boy  and  a  negro  advancing  towards  us.  I 
was  not  long  in  recognizing  Buck  and  Ginger, 
the  latter  thrumming  the  instrument  as  he 
came  on. 

"AVhars  a  house  fo'  t'  git  supper?"  called 
the  boy. 

"  Dunno ;  hunt  yer  own  supper,"  replied  one 
of  the  men. 

"  Hain't  you  uns  got  nothen'  thar  V  spar'  ?" 
"  Reckon  ;  but  we  hain't  goen'  ter  spar'  't." 
Buck  started  towards  the  camp,  and  Ginger 
followed  him. 

"  I'm  a-taken'this  nigger  t'  Spart}^;  he's  sold." 
"  Hain't  y'  got  that  nigger  off  en  yo'  hands 
yit  ?"  called  Pete  Halliday. 


100  SWEET    REVENGE 

Buck  looked  at  the  speaker  in  assumed  sur- 
prise. "  Wal,  now,  you  uns  mus'  be  tli'  men  we 
met  yistid'y  Hain't  yo'  got  yo'  man  offen  yo' 
iiands  yit  ?" 

A  grin  passed  over  the  faces  of  the  men. 

"Don't  yer  mind  'bout  that  man,"  replied 
Pete  Halliday,  "  er  yer'll  git  inter  trouble." 

"Whar  does  the  nigger  b'long?"  asked  the 
captain. 

"  I'm  taken'  him  ter  Sparty." 

"  Y'  don't  keep  him  under  close  watch,"  said 
Pete. 

"  Oh,  he  hain't  no  runaway  nigger.  He's 
got  me  in  charge  's  much  's  I  got  him.  He's 
b'longed  to  the  fambly  since  befo'  I  was 
borned." 

By  this  time  the  travellers  had  reached  the 
camp.  Buck's  intelligent  face  contrasting  with 
the  stupid  look  which  the  negro  was  assum- 
ing. 

The  man  who  cooked  for  the  band  was 
busying  himself  preparing  supper.  With  one 
accord  the  two  girls  took  hold  to  help  him. 
He  at  once  dropped  his  implements  and  gave 
way,  while  all  stood  gaping  at  the  unusual 
sight  of  two  women  who,  unasked,  were  cook- 
ing a  meal  for  them.     Helen  occupied  herself 


FIENDS  101 

over  the  fire  and  managed  an  iron  sicillet— the 
only  coolcing  utensil  in  camp — as  dexterously 
as  a  chef.  Jack  took  the  tin  dishes  that  com- 
posed the  kit  and  "set  the  table,"  an  act  hith- 
erto unknown  at  guerrilla  meals.  Then,  when 
supper  Avas  read}-^,  they  insisted  upon  waiting 
on  the  men.  No  one  objected  to  this  save  the 
captain,  who,  by  his  protest,  a  second  time  in- 
dicated that  he  had  seen  better  days  and  knew 
something  of  deference  to  women. 

The  meal  ended,  the  girls  insisted  on  wash- 
ing the  dishes.  When  there  was  no  more 
work  to  do.  Jack  sang  out : 

"  Clar  th'  way,  you  uus,  'n  I'll  give  yo'  a 
dance !" 


X 
A  DANCE   FOR   A   LIFE 

The  proposition  was  received  with  shouts 
of  approval. 

"  Yo'  don't  mean  yo'  kin  dance  ?" 

"Keckon." 

"  Good  gal !     Clar  th'  way  fo'  a  dance !" 

"  Yo'  nigger,  tune  that  banjo  !  'T's  lucky 
fo'  yo'  y'  got  't,  strings  'n'  all,  er  we'd  'a'  made 
strings  outen  yer  hide." 

The  camp  was  on  a  circular  piece  of  hard 
ground  so  cut  off  from  tlie  sun  by  surrounding 
trees  and  bushes  that  no  grass  grew.  The  few 
scattered  sprouts  were  soon  cleared  away ; 
Ginger  sat  down  on  the  log  which  lay  near 
by,  twanged  his  banjo,  tightening  or  loosening 
a  string,  and  then  gave  a  preliminary  flourish. 

Jaqueline  took  off  her  sunbonnet,  threw  it 
a  few  feet  away,  and  stepped  on  to  the  clear- 
ing. There  was  mingled  fear  and  defiance  in 
her   face   that    set    mv    heart    to    fluttering. 


A    DANCE    FOR    A    LIFE  103 

Though  I  did  not  know  she  was  carrying-  out 
a  jDreconcerted  plan,  somehow  it  got  into  my 
head  that  she  was  about  to  dance  for  my  hberty 
— in  other  Avords,  for  my  life.  The  thought 
maddened  me.  An  impulse  seized  me  to  throw 
off  the  mask  and  defy  the  whole  band.  Helen, 
seeing  the  desperate  resolve  expressed  in  my 
face,  gave  me  a  look,  partly  imploring,  partl}^ 
commanding,  that  recalled  me  to  a  sense  of 
my  helplessness. 

Jaqueline  began  sailing  about,  keeping 
time  to  Ginger's  music,  moving  hither  and 
thither  with  uncertain  steps,  as  a  bird  will  flit 
back  and  forth  before  darting  away  in  its 
flight,  or  as  a  musician  will  sweep  his  fingers 
over  a  harp  before  beginning  his  melody. 
Gradually  the  music  grew  quicker,  and  Jack, 
gathering  confidence,  forgot  everything  but 
the  dance. 

Since  the  entry  of  the  two  girls  into  the 
camp  I  had  suffered  one  terror  after  another 
in  quick  succession,  and  now  it  struck  me 
that  in  case  Jack  succeeded  in  fascinating  this 
lawless  group,  some  of  them,  fired  with  a  desire 
of  possession,  would  break  through  all  restraint. 
I  had  been  wonder-struck  that  two  defence- 
less mrls  should  dare  to  come  anions'  them. 


104  SWEET   EEVENGE 

and  now  I  was  stupefied  that  Jack  should 
dance  before  them  and  that  Helen  should  per- 
mit her  to  do  so.  But  who  shall  measure  the 
strength  of  woman's  Aveakness?  Mother  Nat- 
ure had  taught  Jack  and  Helen  their  power, 
and  they  went  about  their  work  with  not  a 
tithe  of  the  fright  that  possessed  me. 

Meanwhile  Jaqueline  had  drifted  into  the 
dance,  and  was  whirling,  bending,  floating,  ev- 
ery muscle  alive  Avith  its  especial  motion.  At 
times  she  would  lull,  poise  herself  for  a  mo- 
ment, then,  like  a  fitful  wind,  start  again  with 
renewed  fervor.  At  no  time  could  there  be 
discovered  aught  but  delicate  refinement  in 
her  movements,  and  now  it  Avas  her  pur- 
pose to  attract  Avithout  exciting  her  specta- 
tors. Stimulated  by  frequent  bursts  of  ap- 
plause and  by  the  rapt  attention  of  the  men 
surrounding  her,  she  found  her  main  in- 
centive in  a  far  deeper,  nobler  motive — feeling, 
as  she  did,  the  critical  situation,  the  dread  re- 
sponsibility for  a  human  life  resting  upon 
her. 

"What  a  singular  scene?  The  ring  of  ugly 
faces  momentarily  softened  by  the  sight  of 
grace  and  beauty ;  the  captain,  his  sharp 
face  turninir  with  the  dancer  and  following 


A    DANCE    FOK    A    LIFE  105 

her  wherever  she  goes ;  Pete  Halliday,  stand- 
ing with  folded  arms,  lowering  from  under  the 
broad  brim  of  his  sombrero,  grinding  his  quid ; 
Ginger's  black  face  gleaming  with  pride  at 
furnishing  the  music  for  his  young  mistress, 
inspiring  her  with  his  own  inspired  melody; 
little  Buck,  standing  between  two  lank  guer- 
rillas in  "  butternut,"  staring  at  his  cousin, 
and  forgetful  of  her  danger  in  his  interest  in 
her  work  ;  Helen  Stanforth,  standing  apart,  her 
strong  face  wearing  the  expression  of  a  general 
who  watches  a  cavalry  charge  intended  to  turn 
a  position  on  which  hangs  the  fate  of  the  day. 
The  guerrillas,  not  one  of  whom  would  hes- 
itate to  slit  a  throat  at  the  slightest  prospect 
of  gain,  were  watching  the  little  soubrette, 
not  only  with  admiration  but  with  respect. 
Once  during  her  performance  one  of  the  men 
applauded  with  a  ribald  remark.  He  was 
standing  by  the  captain,  who  stretched  his 
arm,  brought  it  down  with  a  backward  stroke, 
and  sent  the  man  sprawling.  Jaqueline  saw 
the  act  and  the  approving  looks  of  the  out- 
laws, who  Avere  in  no  mood  to  have  their 
sport  interrupted.  The  color  left  her  cheeks, 
but  she  kept  right  on,  and  the  episode  passed 
without  farther  consequences. 


106  SWEET    REVENGE 

At  a  moment  when  the  attention  of  the 
men  had  become  riveted  upon  the  dancer, 
Plelen,  who  had  been  gradually  working  her 
way  from  the  group  towards  me,  came  and 
sat  down  on  the  log  behind  Ginger,  Avhere  she 
was  partially  screened  by  him.  Watching  her 
opportunity,  she  deftly  took  a  revolver  from 
her  pocket  and  concealed  it  in  the  folds  of 
her  dress.  With  her  eyes  fixed  upon  the 
group  about  Jack,  she  waited  for  a  burst  of 
applause,  and  Avhen  it  came,  reaching  back 
she  dropped  the  weapon  behind  the  log  at  my 
feet ;  then,  rising,  rejoined  the  circle.  I  pushed 
the  revolver  under  the  log  with  the  toe  of  my 
boot,  then  kicked  dust  and  leaves  over  it. 
This  accomplished,  I  breathed  the  most  com- 
fortable sigh  of  relief  I  have  ever  drawn  in 
my  life.  The  whole  situation  seemed  changed 
by  that  little  dust-covered  combination  of  bits 
of  metal.  Stooping,  I  shpped  it  into  the  leg 
of  my  boot,  and  felt  that  half  the  battle  was 
won. 

At  that  moment  the  setting  sun  came  out 
from  behind  a  cloud  and  shot  lances  of  light 
through  the  trees,  covering  the  group  —  the 
beautiful  and  the  ugly,  the  good  and  the  bad, 
the  refined  and  the  vulgar — with  gilded  splen- 


A    DANCE    FOR   A    LIFE  107 

dor.  I  saw  but  Jaqueline.  The  usual  fitful- 
ness  of  lier  disposition,  her  natural  expression 
of  careless  indifference,  had  given  place  to  a  se- 
rious intensity  denoting  a  great  purpose.  Pois- 
ing herself  between  two  movements,  the  gild- 
ing rays  shone  on  her  forehead.  Then  dart- 
ing on  her  toes  to  another  part  of  the  ring,  a 
quick  succession  of  lights  and  shades  passed 
over  her  brow — a  glittering-  diadem  of  sun- 
flashes.  Truly  God  is  a  wonderful  artist,  since 
He  can  touch  even  a  dance  Avitli  celestial  pu- 
rity. 

Helen  Stanforth  turned  to  me.     PulIinfT'  her 

c> 

sunbonnet  forward  so  as  to  conceal  her  face 
from  the  others — though  the}'"  were  too  intent 
on  Jaqueline  to  notice  her — she  moved  her 
lips,  and  though  no  sound  came  I  knew  she 
intended  the  word  : 

"Go!" 

ISTear  me  was  a  tree ;  not  far  from  that 
another ;  underbrush,  bushes — just  the  cover 
through  which  to  make  a  retreat.  I  could 
easily  get  down  behind  the  log,^  crawl  into  the 
thicket,  and  awa3\  Now  for  the  first  time  the 
purpose  of  dear  little  Jaqueline  was  full}^  ap- 
parent. 

But  how  could  I  leave  these  friends  who  bad 


108  SWEET    REVENGE 

risked  so  much,  accomplished  so  much,  for  me  ? 
I  stood  still  and  shook  my  head. 

Ao:ain  Helen  looked  an  order  for  me  to  ofo. 

"  I^ot  without  the  others,"  I  whispered. 

Sittino:  down  on  the  log-  so  as  to  be  nearer 
to  me,  she  replied,  in  a  low  voice : 

"We  will  leave  here  when  you  are  safely 
away.  She  will  dance  on  to  keep  them  from 
knowing  you  have  gone.  We  have  planned 
it  so." 

"  They  will  know  you  connived  at  ray  escape 
and  murder  you." 

"Why  should  they?  Go  at  once,  or  I  shall 
consider  you  an  ingrate." 

She  looked  so  anxious,  they  had  all  made 
such  a  noble  eifort  in  my  behalf,  that  I  could 
not  find  it  in  my  heart  to  disappoint  them. 

I  slipped  behind  the  tree,  dropped  to  the 
ground,  and  wriggled  like  a  snake  through  the 
underbrush ;  then,  rising,  darted  away. 

A  dozen  yards  —  fifty  — a  hundred.  The 
music  of  Ginger's  banjo  dies  as  suddenly  as  the 
clang  of  a  bell  on  a  passing  engine.  Will  one 
minute  or  five  pass  before  I  am  missed  ?  A 
distant  burst  of  applause — God  bless  the  dear 
little  dancer !  Before  me  is  an  open  space,  then 
a  dense  clump  of  trees.     If  I  can  reach  that 


A    DANCPJ    FOR    A    LIFE  109 

thicket  I  can  make  a  quick  digression,  and  this 
ma}^  throw  my  pursuers  off  my  track. 

A  confusion  of  yells — a  bullet  whistling  by 
my  ear.  I  reach  the  wood  and  push  on  through 
it,  not  daring  to  lose  distance  by  digression 
with  an  enemy  close  behind  me.  My  feet 
becoming'  entanoled  in  a  vine,  I  stumble  and 
fall.  A  weight  comes  down  on  me,  crushing 
the  breath  out  of  me.    It  is  all  over. 

Panting,  bleeding,  white  as  a  ghost,  I  am 
led  back  to  the  guerrilla  camp. 

"  Shoot  him !" 

"  Gimme  a  rope  oifen  that  pack-mule!" 

"  Tie  him  on  a  critter  *n'  send  him  down  the 
mounting !" 

A  babel  of  brutal  suggestions  came  from  the 
different  members  of  the  band,  sounding  to 
me,  stunned  as  I  was,  like  final  random  shots 
at  the  slaughter  of  a  "  forlorn  hope."  Amid 
the  clamor  I  saw  but  one  sight — Helen  and 
Jack  locked  in  each  other's  arms,  paraWzed 
with  terror. 

"Stand  back,  men!"  cried  the  captain,  push- 
ing his  way  towards  me.  "  Have  y'  forgot  the 
money  ?" 

"  Stand  back  !"  roared  Halliday.  "  He  be- 
longs to  me  'n'  Tom  Jaycox.     We  tuk  him." 


.110  SWEET    REVENGE 

The  captain's  authorit}',  thus  supported, 
saved  me  from  immediate  death.  The  men 
who  were  crowding  around  me  gave  way,  a 
cord  was  brought,  and  my  wrists  and  ankles 
were  securely  bound.  No  one  seemed  to  sus- 
pect that  Jack's  dance  had  anything  to  do  with 
my  flight,  except  that  I  had  taken  advantage 
of  the  relaxed  vigilance  to  make  the  attempt. 
Having  tied  me,  the}^  threw  me  to  the  ground, 
Halliday  giving  me  a  parting  kick  ;  a  man  Avas 
deputed  to  watch  me,  and  the  band,  accus- 
tomed to  such  episodes,  left  me,  to  turn  again 
to  what  was  far  more  interesting  to  them. 


STEALING  THE   GTJNS 

Jaquelixe  once  more  became  an  object 
of  undivided  interest.  The  men  crowded 
about  her,  staring  at  her,  uttering  exclama- 
tions of  admiration,  vainly  seeking  a  way 
to  do  her  honor.  Presently  they  cut  sap- 
linffs,  out  of  which  thev  constructed  a  rude 
chair,  decorating  it  with  twigs,  and  one  ill- 
favored  bandit,  to  whom  nature  had  impart- 
ed a  spark  of  art,  gathered  Avild  flowers  with 
which  to  put  on  finishing  touches.  When  the 
seat  was  completed,  the  men  looked  awkward- 
ly at  Jack,  and  the  captain,  presenting  the 
tips  of  his  fingers,  led  her  to  her  improvised 
throne.  Helen,  Avho  at  the  first  sign  that  I 
was  to  be  temporarily  spared  had  recovered 
her  equanimit}"  and  had  infused  some  of  her 
restored  courage  into  Jack,  saw  at  once  the 
advantage  of  keeping  up  her  cousin's  popu- 
larity.    Seizing  some  of  the  flowers,  she  Avove 


112  SWEET    KEVENGE 

them  on  a  framework  of  green  twigs  into  a 
circular  garland,  and  insisted  on  crowning  the 
favorite — not  Queen  of  May,  for  Ma}^  had  not 
yet  come,  but  queen  of  a  month  far  more  ap- 
propriate— April. 

Bv  this  time  night  had  come  on,  a  roarino; 
fire  was  lighted,  and  the  guerrillas,  forming  a 
ring  of  which  Jack  was  the  gem,  threw  them- 
selves on  the  ground  and  listened  to  her  chat, 
her  songs,  her  stories,  their  lirelighted  faces 
standing  out  of  the  gloom  in  grim  contrast 
with  her  refined  beauty.  The  captain,  with 
his  superior  breeding,  served  as  a  link  between 
her  and  his  men,  keeping  them  in  check  and 
stimulating  their  admiration  by  his  own.  If 
Jack  flagged  for  a  moment  between  her  stories 
and  her  songs  Helen  was  quick  to  suggest  new 
ones,  and  occasionally  both  were  relieved  by 
little  Buck,  who  Avould  throw  in  some  quaint 
remark  typical  of  that  peculiar  creature — the 
American  boy. 

So  long  as  the  songs  and  stories  lasted  there 
was  nothing  to  precipitate  trouble,  but  the  en- 
tertainment could  not  go  on  all  night,  and  I 
began  to  dread  the  moment  when  the  girls 
should  attempt  to  take  their  departure.  Pres- 
ently Helen,  in  a  firm  voice,  said  : 


STEALING    THE    GUNS  113 

"  Come,  it's  time  for  us  to  go.'' 

Shouts  of  "No!"  "A  dance!"  "A  song!" 
greeted  the  proposition,  and  the  guerrillas  be- 
gan to  form  in  groups  to  resist  an  exit.  Helen, 
selecting  the  noisiest  knot  of  men,  drew  a  revol- 
ver from  her  pocket,  and,  cocking  it,  moved 
towards  them  with  her  eyes  fixed  upon  them, 
calm  and  stead\^  Whether  it  Avas  that  they 
were  cowed  by  the  weapon,  or  admired  this 
evidence  of  woman's  pluck,  they  opened  a  way. 
The  captain,  seizing  the  opportunity,  quick- 
ly took  Jack  by  the  hand  and  led  her  after 
her  cousin.  Once  beyond  the  ring,  he  as- 
sisted the  girls  to  mount,  then,  mounting 
himself,  the  three  rode  away,  followed  by  a 
cheer.  As  for  me,  I  breathed  one  long  sigh 
of  relief. 

"  "Well,  Ginger,"  said  Buck,  "  reckon  ef  we 
uns  're  gocn'  to  git  to  Sparty  to-morrer  we'll 
have  to  travel  all  night." 

"  Is  th'  nigger  taken'  you  to  Sparty  or  air 
you  taken'  the  nigger?"  asked  one  of  the  men. 

"  Dat  ain't  gwine  to  mak'  no  differ,"  said 
Ginger.  "  Mars'  Buck  'n'  1  don'  never  hab  no 
trouble.  Mars'  Buck,  he's  my  mars'  till  I  gits 
to  de  new  one." 

Buck  led  his  horse  to  the  log  and  mounted, 


114  SWEET    KEVENGE 

giving  me  a  significant  look,  as  much  as  to  say, 
"  I  won't  desert  you,"  then  rode  away,  follow- 
ed by  Ginger,  with  the  remark  : 

"  Good-bye,  yo'  fellers;  much  'bliged  fo'  the 
good  time." 

The  restraint  of  the  girls'  presence  being  no 
longer  felt,  the  men's  behavior  changed  in  a 
twinkling.  The  captain's  absence  left  Pete 
Halliday — the  worst  man  in  the  gang — free 
to  foment  trouble,  and  he  began  to  do  so  by 
sneering  at  his  chief  for  being  brought,  as 
he  expressed  it,  under  petticoat  government. 
There  appeared  to  be  two  factions  in  the  band 
— the  one  headed  b}^  Halliday  or  Jaycox,  the 
other  by  Captain  Ringold.  Halliday  set 
about  instigating  the  guerrillas,  or,  rather,  his 
adherents,  to  go  after  Helen  and  Jack,  and 
brinir  them  back  for  another  dance.  To  make 
matters  worse,  one  of  the  men  found  some  ap- 
ple-jack, and  it  was  not  long  before  the  gang 
w^ere  half  drunk.  Meanwhile  the  captain  re- 
turned, and  received  a  hearty  cursing  from 
Halliday  and  his  adherents.  Several  of  them 
started  to  bring  back  the  girls,  but  Ringold 
drew  upon  them  and  threatened  to  shoot  them 
unless  they  returned.  They  staggered  back, 
grumbling,  and  the  captain  adroitly  proposed 


STEALING    THE    GUNS  115 

another  pull  at  the  apple-jack.  This  di- 
verted them,  and,  after  finishing  the  liquor, 
one  after  another  sank  into  a  drunken  slum- 
ber. 

It.  was  midnight.  Every  member  of  the 
band  was  asleep,  save  the  man  who  was  de- 
puted to  guard  me.  He  was  sitting  on  a  piece 
of  fire-wood,  so  placed  that  he  could  watch  me 
across  the  flame.  I  lay  on  my  back  looking 
up  at  the  stars  and  feather-like  clouds  that 
now  and  again  floated  across  the  great  blue 
dome, — the  only  motion  apparent,  save  the 
tree-tops  bending  under  an  occasional  breeze. 
The  fire  flickered,  the  guard  nodded,  an  owl 
in  the  distance  gave  an  occasional  hoot. 

I  heard  something  stir  in  the  underbrush. 
Glancino:  aside,  I  saw  a  small  light  disk  over 
a  bush.     It  was  the  face  of  little  Buck. 

Now,  in  the  name  of  all  the  gods,  will  those 
devoted  friends  never  oive  over  riskin"'  tlieir 
lives  in  these  useless  attempts  i  What  is  to 
happen  now  ?  I  scowled  an  order  to  the  boy 
to  go  away,  but  he  paid  no  attention  to  it. 
Somethina:  came  slidins'  alouii-  the  o^round  and 
lodged  against  me.  The  guard  heard  it,  start- 
ed, cast  a  quick  glance  at  me,  then  about  him, 
but,  seeing  nothing,  relapsed  into  his  former 


116  SWEET    REVENGE 

quietude.  I  felt  for  what  had  struck  me,  and 
clasped  a  jack-knife. 

Meanwhile  Buck  disappeared,  but,  soon  ap- 
pearing again  in  his  place,  held  up  a  carbine. 
He  had  doubtless  stolen  it  from  one  of  the  men 
who  slept  on  the  edge  of  the  circle  about  the 
lire.  Again  he  disappeared,  and  I  watched 
eagerly  for  his  return.  The  guard  was  still 
awake,  though  nodding,  but  had  he  been  more 
watchful  he  would  not  likely  have  discovered 
Buck,  for  the  underbrush,  both  where  the  boy 
appeared  to  me  and  where  it  skirted  the  sleep- 
ing guerrillas,  was  so  thick  that  in  passing 
around  the  camp  he  was  coraparativ^ely  safe 
from  observation.  Besides,  for  most  of  the 
distance  Buck  traversed  in  his  gun  foray  the 
guard's  back  was  towards  him. 

I  Avatch  the  point  where  Buck's  head  ap- 
peared, expecting  to  see  it  again,  but  in  its 
stead  presently  see  two  white  points.  Strain- 
ing my  eyes,  1  discern  the  whites  of  two  e3'es, 
then  a  black  face. 

It  is  Ginger. 

A  white  hne  appears  directly  below  the 
e3'es,  and  I  know  Ginger  is  showing  his  teeth 
in  a  smile.  He  raises  his  arm,  and,  behold ! 
another  gun.      Again  a  white  line  of  teeth. 


STEALING   THE    GUNS  117 

and  he  puts  the  weapon  down.  Five,  ten,  fif- 
teen minutes  elapse.  Ginger  holds  his  ground. 
Has  he  gone  to  sleep?  No.  Another  five 
minutes,  and  he  holds  np  another  gun.  Ah,  I 
see ;'  little  Buck,  with  cat-like  tread,  is  gath- 
ering^ in  the  arms.  That's  well ;  he  is  far  bet- 
ter  fitted  for  such  delicate  work  than  a  stiff 
old  negro. 

This  little  pantomime  begins  to  take  shape 
in  my  mind,  and  brings  anticipations  of  more 
than  a  fight  for  my  own  life.  If  I  can  escape, 
and  Buck  and  Ginger  secure  sufficient  arms, 
it  may  be  possible  for  all  our  party  to  get 
together  and  make  a  defence.  I  must  tell 
Ginger  to  get  some  ammunition.  But  with  a 
guard  looking  straight  at  me  it  is  no  easy 
task  to  convey  an  order  by  signs,  and  that  to 
a  stupid  negro.  Catching  sight  of  a  small 
stone  beside  me,  1  put  out  my  hand,  yawning 
to  conceal  my  intention,  let  it  fall  on  the 
stone,  and  soon  have  it  between  the  knuckle 
of  my  thumb  and  the  point  of  my  forefin- 
ger, as  a  boy  holds  a  marble.  AYatching  till 
the  guard's  head  is  turned,  looking  meaningly 
at  Ginger,  I  fire  the  stone  a  short  distance, 
hoping  he  will  understand  the  word  "  ammu- 
nition."    His  face  is  a  blank ;  it  is  evident 


118  SWEET    RliVENGE 

that  he  does  not  know  what  I  mean,  and  there 
is  no  prospect  of  his  getting  it  through  his 
thick  skull. 

Ginger  turned  away,  and  I  knew  that  he 
was  speaking  to  his  young  master ;  then 
Buck's  white  face  showed  itself  inquiringly 
behind  the  negro's  black  one.  I  looked  mean- 
ingly at  Buck,  and  repeated  tiie  motion  of  fir- 
ing. He  caught  my  meaning,  and,  taking  up  a 
gun, made  a  motion  as  if  ramming  a  cartridge, 
looking  at  me  inquiringly.  I  indicated  that  he 
was  right.  He  went  awa\%  and  after  a  long 
absence  came  back  and  held  up  four  cartridge- 
boxes,  two  in  each  hand.  Then,  putting  down 
the  boxes,  he  held  up  three  fingers,  and  I  knew 
that  they  had  secured  three  guns.  He  next 
held  up  four  fingers  of  the  other  hand,  point- 
ing to  the  sleeping  guerrillas,  and  I  knew  he 
proposed  to  get  one  more  gun. 

Buck  was  a  long  while  capturing  the  fourth 
gun.  One  of  the  men  awoke,  j'^awned,  sat  up, 
and  looked  into  the  fire ;  yawned  again,  lay 
down,  and  was  soon  snoring.  Then  the  guard 
got  up  from  where  he  was  sitting.  There  was 
a  slight  sound  in  the  bushes,  and  he  listened 
attentively.  Then  he  put  some  wood  on  the 
tire  and  sat  down   again.     He  had   scarcely 


STEALING   THE    GUNS  119 

seated   himself   before   Ginger    held    up    the 
fourth   gun. 

I  moved  slightl}^,  showing  ray  friends  by 
my  manner  that  I  was  about  to  try  to  get 
away.  They  appeared  to  understand  and 
gathered  up  the  guns,  Buck  taking  one  and 
Ginger  three,  doing  all  so  silently  that  no 
sound  reached  even  me.  I  waited,  watchino- 
the  guard  intently  till  he  should  nod.  I  had 
no  expectation  of  his  going  to  sleep ;  I  only 
hoped  to  free  myself  from  my  thongs  be- 
fore he  would  discover  my  movement.  He 
nodded  ;  I  moved  ;  he  opened  his  eyes ;  I 
snored  ;  he  nodded  again  ;  I  grasped  the  knife. 
Thoughtful  Buck !  he  had  opened  the  blade. 
Drawing  up  my  knees  I  cut  the  ropes  that 
bound  my  ankles,  then  felt  in  my  boot-leg  for 
the  revolver.  I  was  about  to  cock  it  when  I 
remembered  that  the  guard  would  hear  the 
click.  I  thought  I  would  conceal  the  sound 
by  a  sneeze,  but  a  sneeze  might  disturb  some 
of  the  band.  The  owl,  which  had  for  some 
time  been  silent,  hooted.  It  usually  gave 
three  hoots  in  succession.  I  counted — one,  two, 
and  at  the  third  cocked  mv  revolver.  Throuo-h 
my  half-closed  lids  I  cast  a  glance  at  the  guard. 
His  eyes  were  shut.    I  looked  significantly  at 


120  SWEET    REVENGE 

Buck  and  Ginger  to  show  them  that  I  was 
ready,  then  motioned  them  to  go.  Waiting 
long  enough  for  them  to  put  a  few  hundred 
yards  between  them  and  tlie  camp,  and  no- 
ticing that  the  guard's  eyes  were  still  shut,  I 
prepared  to  follow. 

Rising  slowly  and  silently,  keeping  my  eyes 
fixed  on  the  man  by  the  fire,  raising  my  re- 
volver, and  taking  as  good  an  aim  as  possible 
witli  bound  wrists,  I  stood  on  my  feet.  One 
step  backward;  then  another;  a  third,  a  fourth, 
a  fifth,  a  sixth.  I  had  reached  the  bushes 
where  Buck  and  Ginger  had  been  concealed, 
and  was  about  to  take  one  more  step  which 
would  secure  concealment  when  the  guard 
opened  his  eyes  and  looked  straight  at  me. 

Surprise  Avas  his  last  emotion,  my  figure 
the  last  sight  he  ever  saw.  I  shot  him  through 
the  head,  and  before  the  report  had  ceased  to 
reverberate  was  in  the  bushes. 


XII 
A  DAYLIGHT  ATTACK 

Despite  the  thickness  of  the  surrounding 
underbrush,  I  made  quick  progress.  Jumping 
clean  over  bushes,  darting  around  trees  and 
under  low  limbs,  after  running  some  two  hun- 
dred yards  from  the  guerrilla  camp  I  came  to 
a  comparatively  open  space.  Seeing  a  figure 
standins:  within  it,  and  surmisino:  it  to  be  one 
of  my  friends,  I  was  about  to  call,  when  a 
woman's  voice  cried  "Halt!"  I  knew  that  I 
Avas  covei'ed  by  a  weapon,  and  stopped  short. 

"Are  you — " 

"  Yes  ;   and  you  ?" 

"  Helen.    This  way." 

She  darted  away  like  a  deer.  I  soon  over- 
took her,  and  together  we  ran  perhaps  half  a 
mile,  when  she  began  to  climb  an  ascent  lead- 
ing to  the  base  of  an  overhanf!:ino-  cliff.  I  saw 
through  the  gloom  a  large  and  a  small  figure 
climbing  just  ahead  of  us,  and  knew  they  were 


122  SWEET    REVENGE 

Ginger  and  Buck.  Helen  led  the  way  up  to  a 
recess  in  the  cliff,  and  I  saw  at  once  a  position 
that  we  could  hold  against  a  dozen  men  so 
long  as  we  had  food  and  ammunition. 

"  Hello !"  It  was  Jack's  cheery  voice. 
"  Goody  !  Ain't  I  glad  to  get  out  o'  the  wil- 
derness !" 

"  7'm  glad  enough,"  I  said,  as  soon  as  I  could 
get  breath  to  speak;  "but  you  women — " 

There  was  no  time  for  words.  We  set  about 
rolling  a  big  stone  into  a  gap  between  two 
others,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  in  position  had  a 
continuous  breastwork.  The  guerrillas  were 
callino-  to  each  other  in  the  woods  below,  but 
they  did  not  seem  to  know  where  we  were.  I 
picked  up  one  of  the  guns  Ginger  had  thrown 
down.  Buck  had  one  in  his  hands,  Ginger  kept 
one,  and  Helen  seized  the  remaining  one. 

"Where  do  /come  in?"  chirped  Jack. 

"Here."  I  handed  her  the  revolver,  in  which 
there  were  five  loaded  chambers,  and  told  her 
to  hold  on  to  it,  as  she  would  doubtless  need 
it.  We  all  took  position  beliind  our  breast- 
works ready  to  ropel  an  assault,  at  the  same 
time  seeing  to  the  condition  of  our  pieces. 
They  were  cavalry  carbines,  all  loaded  and 
capped  ready  for  use. 


A    DAYLIGHT    ATTACK  123 

"  Where  are  your  horses  ?"  I  asked. 

"  Picketed  down  there,"  Helen  repHed,  point- 
ing westward,  "  in  a  thicket  not  far  from  the 
road." 

"  Have  you  anything  to  eat  ?" 

She  glanced  at  a  parcel  on  the  ground.  "  I 
got  that  in  a  cabin.  There's  some  corn-pone 
and  pork." 

"Barely  enough  for  one  meal.  Any 
water?" 

"There's  some  water  trickling  between  the 
rocks  back  there." 

"  That  pone  and  pork  means  a  chance,  but 
it's  a  slim  one." 

Helen  set  her  lips ;  Jack  turned  pale;  Ginger 
showed  no  emotion  whatever;  while  Buck  re- 
marked that  he'd  be  "  darned  if  he  didn't  plunk 
one  of  'em,  anyway."  As  for  m3'self,  I  was 
aghast  at  the  terrible  fate  that  threatened 
those  who  had  so  nobl}'  and  so  bravely  risked 
all  in  my  behalf. 

"  What  brought  you  here  ?"  I  asked,  impa- 
tiently, of  Helen. 

"  When  3'ou  were  taken  from  our  house  I 
resolved  to  follow.  Buck  came  in  just  as  I 
started,  and  insisted  on  joining  me.  We  traced 
you  to  Colonel  Rutland's  plantation — " 


124  SWEET    REVENGE 

"  I  see ;  it  was  you  I  heard  coming  in  after 
I  went  iip-stairs." 

"  Ginger  took  the  horses  to  the  stable,  and 
was  returning  to  the  house  when  he  saw  two 
men  chmb  a  tree  near  your  window  and  enter 
your  room.  He  watched  from  a  distance  and 
saw  them  bring  you  out,  but  lie  could  not  tell 
whether  they  were  taking  you  away  by  force 
or  assisting  you  to  escape.  Coming  into  tlie 
house,  he  told  us  what  had  happened. 

"Jack  started  to  awaken  Captain  Beaumont, 
but  I  stopped  her.  If  you  had  been  assisted 
to  escape  this  would  be  fatal ;  besides,  from 
what  Jack  had  told  me  of  the  captain,  I  judged 
he  would  have  his  night's  rest  before  starting 
in  pursuit.  I  told  Jack  I  would  follow  you 
myself,  and  she  was  wild  to  come  Avith  me. 
Ginger  had  seen  you  leave  the  plantation,  and 
knew  the  direction  you  had  taken.  We  sent 
him  and  Buck  ahead,  and  they  soon  came  near 
enough  to  you  to  hear  your  horses'  hoof -beats  ; 
then  waited  for  us  to  come  up.  Soon  after 
we  lost  track  of  you,  but  hearing  something 
come  crashing  down  the  mountain—" 

"  A  stone." 

"  We  followed  the  direction  of  the  sound. 
In  the  early  morning  Buck  and  Ginger  came 


A    DAYLIGHT    ATTACK  125 

upon  \'ou  unexpectedly.  As  soon  as  you  had 
gone  the}^  rejoined  us,  we  shadowed  you,  and 
3'esterday  afternoon  laid  a  plan  for  your  es- 
cape." 

"•  A  wild,  impracticable  scheme.  One  cir- 
cumstance has  led  to  another,  each  involvinsr 
you  more  deeply.  My  God,  what  a  load  of 
obligation !  We  can't  stay  here  ;  we'll  starve. 
Buck,  couldn't  you  slip  out  in  the  darkness  and 
find  help  ?" 

"  No,  siree  ;  I'm  not  goen'  out  o'  hyar.  I'm 
goen'  t'  stay  'n'  fight  with  the  rest." 

"  But  you  may  save  all  our  lives." 

"  Why  don't  you  go,  Mr.  Brandystone  ?" 

"  I  ?  I  must  stay  with  your  sister  and  cous- 
in. Besides,  I'm  big,  and  couldn't  get  through 
as  easily  as  you." 

"  Well,  I  ain't  a-goen'  to  sneak  away  if  I  am 
little." 

"  Buck}^"  said  Jack,  "■  yo'  needn't  go ;  I'll 
go  myself." 

"  You  don'  do  nuffin  like  dat.  Missy  Jack," 
cried  Ginger ;  "  deni  grillers  shoot  y' !  Wha' 
mars'  say  ef  I  go  back  an'  tell  'em  de  apple  ob 
he  eye  go  down  'mong  grillers  fo'  to  git  shot, 
/gwine,  mars',"  he  added  to  me. 

But  bv  this  time  there  was  more  callinef 


126  SWEET    KEVENGE 

among  the  men  below,  a  streak  of  light  ap- 
peared in  the  east,  and  I  did  not  dare  let  any 
one  attempt  to  evade  the  enemy ;  besides,  I 
could  now  see  by  the  lay  of  the  land  that  it 
would  be  impossible. 

Something  must  have  given  the  guerrillas 
an  inkling  of  our  whereabouts,  for  as  soon  as  it 
was  light  we  could  see  them  standing,  looking 
up  at  our  position.  I  told  every  one  to  lie  low, 
hoping  that  some  of  the  outlaws  woidd  climb 
up  to  investigate,  and  we  might  pick  them  off. 
For  more  than  an  hour  we  remained  concealed, 
onl}^  speaking  in  whispers  ;  then  we  saw  the 
knot  of  men  below  divide,  three  going  to  the 
Avest,  three  to  the  east,  while  three  began  to 
climb  towards  our  fortress.  One  remained  be- 
low, and  as  the  light  increased  I  saw  it  was 
the  captain. 

We  four  who  were  armed  Avith  carbines 
knelt  behind  the  rocks,  I  to  the  extreme  left, 
Helen  next,  then  Buck  behind  the  stone  we 
had  moved  to  fill  the  gap,  with  Ginger  bring- 
ing up  the  right  end  of  the  line.  I  was  an  ex- 
cellent shot — I  had  long  been  considered  one 
of  the  best  in  Tennessee — and  it  turned  out 
that  Helen  was  not  bad.  (xingcr  was  no  shot 
at  all.     I  selected  the  man  in  advance  for  my 


A    DAYLIGHT   ATTACK  127 

especial  object,  designated  the  second  for  Hel- 
en, and  gave  Buck  the  third.  They  were  to 
fire  after  me  in  the  order  named.  Ginger  was 
to  fire  at  any  who  might  be  left  standing. 
Jack  had  only  a  revolver,  and  I  directed  her  to 
keep  back.  She  was  trembling,  and  in  order 
to  strengthen  her  bv  concentrating  her  mind 
on  some  duty,  I  told  her  to  be  ready  to  hand 
us  the  ammunition  after  the  first  volley. 

The  guerrillas  came  on,  every  man  holding 
a  carbine.  When  they  had  covered  a  third  of 
the  distance  I  saw  that  Buck  was  about  to 
fire  out  of  turn,  and  1  was  obliged  to  speak  to 
him  somewhat  sharply.  I  think  the  advanc- 
ing men  heard  me,  for  they  stopped  and  con- 
sulted. The  captain,  standing  below,  called  to 
them  to  go  on,  and,  separating  so  as  to  leave  a 
dozen  yards  between  each  man,  skirmish-fash- 
ion, they  started  again,  watching  eagerly  for  a 
sight  of  something  to  fire  at.  As  they  were 
all  abreast,  my  order  for  firing  would  not 
serve.     1  gave  another. 

''  ril  take  the  left  man,  Miss  Stanforth  the 
centre.  Buck  the  right." 

There  was  no  response.  All  were  too  intent 
on  the  work  before  us  to  speak.  I  permitted 
the   men  to   come  within    a   hundred  yards, 


128  SWEET    REVENGE 

when,  taking  deliberate  aim  with  a  rest,  I 
shot  my  man  through  the  heart.  In  another 
moment  Helen's  rifle  cracked,  and  the  centre 
man  dropped.  Buck,  who  was  excited,  fired 
wild,  and  missed  altogether.  Ginger  lost  his 
head  completely,  and  did  not  fire  at  all.  As 
Ginger's  courage  deserted  him,  Jack's  came 
to  her  all  of  a  sudden. 

"  Why  don't  y'  shoot.  Ginger  ?"  she  cried, 
with  flashing  e3'es.  Snatching  his  gun  and 
aiming  it  at  the  remaining  man,  who  was  rap- 
idly getting  down  the  declivity,  she  sent  him 
the  rest  of  the  way  wath  a  limp.  Two  men 
were  put  out  of  the  fight  and  the  third  disabled. 

"  By  golly  !"  cried  Buck,  "  we  licked  'em, 
didn't  we  ?'' 

I  thought  it  best  not  to  discourage  him  by 
telling  him  that  this  was  only  a  preliminary 
skirmish,  but  asked  Jack  for  the  ammunition, 
and  we  all  reloaded. 

The  wounded  man  went  back  to  the  cap- 
tain, who  appeared  greatly  agitated  over  the 
result.  He  was  evidently  surprised  at  the 
reception  of  his  searching-party.  The  men 
who  had  gone  to  the  flanks,  hearing  the  firing, 
rejoined  their  leader,  and  two  men  who  had 
been  in  the  rear  came  forward. 


A    DAYLIGHT    ATTACK  129 

Heaven  preserve  us !  The  captain  has  start- 
ed up  the  slope  at  the  head  of  a  stormhig- 
party  of  eight  men. 

I  was  appalled.  We  had  but  four  guns,  and 
after  firing]:  a  vollev  must  reload  before  tirini^ 
another.  We  could  not  expect  to  disable  more 
than  four  men  at  the  first  fire,  then  the  re- 
maining four  Avould  be  upon  us  before  we 
could  reload.  In  quick  tones  I  gave  the 
order  : 

"  All  load  ;  I'll  fire." 

With  that  I  let  drive,  and  dropped  a  man. 
Then,  throwing  down  my  gun,  I  took  Helen's, 
and  dropped  another.  Buck  handed  me  his, 
and  I  dropped  a  third. 

"  By  jirainy !"  cried  Buck,  exposing  his 
head  to  see  better,  "  ain't  yo'  a  bully  shot !'' 
Ping!  went  a  bullet  within  an  inch  of  his  ear, 
and  he  ducked. 

"  Keep  down !"  I  cried,  as  the  lead  rattled 
against  the  rocks  in  front  of  us,  and  fired  the 
fourth  gun,  again  hitting  my  man,  though  I 
only  "  winged "  him ;  indeed,  I  believe  he 
dropped  to  evade  the  fire.  By  this  time  the 
first  gun  had  been  reloaded,  and  I  took  aim  at 
the  captain.  I  was  sure  I  hit  him,  but  he 
came  on.     Taking  the  next  gun  now  ready 


130  SWEET    EEVENGE 

I  fired  at  him  again,  but  just  as  I  did  so  one 
of  the  men  ste})ped  in  front  of  him  and  re- 
ceived the  shot.  This  finished  the  assault. 
The  men  broke  and  tied,  and  before  I  could 
get  another  shot  were  far  back  towards  the 
position  from  which  they  had  started. 


XIII 
BELEAGUERED 

Strange  that  men  will  never  learn  the  ter- 
rible advantage  of  a  force  posted  on  an  im- 
pregnable position,  protected  by  breastworks, 
and  able  to  pour  shot  down  a  steep  hill  at  an 
enemy.  Two  men,  two  girls,  and  a  boy  had 
defeated  the  guerrillas  and  sent  them  back  to 
their  camp.  I  did  not  fear  another  attack. 
What  I  dreaded  was  starvation ;  indeed,  I 
could  see  plainly  that  our  enemies  were  pre- 
paring to  carr}^  out  tlie  starvation  plan.  Sev- 
eral of  them  went  in  different  directions, 
doubtless  for  food.  One  of  them  passed  quite 
within  range. 

"  Tm  goen'  t'  plunk  that  one,"  said  Buck. 

I  caught  his  arm  and  gave  him  a  reproof 
which  for  a  while,  at  least,  caused  him  to  re- 
member that  I  was  in  command. 

"  I  wish  they'd  attack  us  again,"  said  the 
irrepressible  boy.      "  I  could  'a'  hit  that  dog- 


132  SWEET    KEVENGE 

gone  '  butternut '  if  somep'n  hadn't  joggled  my 
arm." 

There  had  been  nothing  to  joggle  the  boy's 
arm,  but  I  thought  it  best  to  let  him  keep  up 
his  pride ;  it  would  make  him  more  serviceable ; 
so  I  said  nothing. 

"  I  aimed  right  at  the  middle  of  his  breast," 
continued  Buck,  "  but  just  then  he  jumped 
over  a  stone  and  I  missed  him." 

"I  thought  some  one  joggled  your  arm?" 

"  Some  one  did.  Ginger,  yo'  consarned  old 
nigger,  what  d'  yo'  go  joggle  me  fo',  just  as  I 
was  goen'  to  plunk  him  ?" 

"/didn't  joggle  yo',  Mars'  Buck." 

"  Was  it  you,  Ilel'n  ?" 

"  No." 

"  Somebody  did,  or  I'd  'a'  hit  him,  sho !" 

If  ever  a  party  needed  breakfast  it  was  ours. 
Helen  unrolled  the  little  parcel  of  provisions. 
I  directed  her  to  serve  a  half  ration,  or,  rather, 
half  of  what  there  was,  and  save  the  rest. 
She  did  so,  handing  me  my  portion,  which  I 
declined,  but  she  argued  that  it  was  important 
for  all  that  I  should  keep  up  my  strength, 
and  finally  prevailed  on  me  to  eat  my  share. 
Jaqueline  and  Buck  ate  theirs  ravenously. 
Each  of  us  went  to  where  the  water  was  drip- 


BELEAGUERED  133 

ping  from  the  cleft  and  caught  the  drops  in 
our  mouths.  Buck,  when  he  had  finished  his 
breakfast,  like  Oliver  Twist,  asked  for  more. 
It  made  my  heart  ache  to  refuse  him,  but 
there  was  no  alternative. 

One  danger  was  dwarfed  by  the  greater 
perils  that  surrounded  us,  yet  it  was  no  less 
important.  My  wound  was  liable  to  put  me 
hors  de  combat  at  any  moment.  Fortunately, 
until  my  dash  from  the  guerrilla  camp,  I  had 
not  been  subject  to  any  physical  strain,  and  by 
that  time  it  had  healed  sufficiently  to  pre- 
vent its  opening — at  an}"  rate,  it  gave  me  no 
trouble.  The  first  thing  Helen  asked,  after  a 
lull  in  the  fighting,  was  about  this  wound. 
She  insisted  on  dressing  it  for  me,  and  I  per- 
mitted her  to  do  so.  She  wound  around  it  a 
fresh  bandage  torn  from  my  shirt-sleeve  and 
was  pinning  it  when,  looking  up  at  me,  she 
said  : 

"You're  not  the  first  one  of  our  men  I've 
assisted  with  bandages." 

Her  remark  cut  me  like  a  knife.  It  was 
plain  that  she  was  making  this  effort,  incur- 
rins:  this  danger,  believino'  me  to  be  a  Confed- 
erate. 

"  I  can't  understand  all  these  troubles  that 


134  SWEET    REVENGE 

surround  you,"  she  went  on.  "Why  not  ex- 
plain ?" 

"  You  know  I'm  charo;ed  with  beinfj  in 
league  with  the  Yankees." 

"  Yes ;  but  your  accusers  are  robbers  and 
murderers.  If  I  thought  that — "  She  broke 
off  with  a  frown,  and  turned  away. 

The  guerrillas  built  a  fire,  and,  after  cook- 
ing and  eating  breakfast,  loitered  about,  some 
chatting,  some  playing  cards,  while  others  de- 
toted  themselves  to  their  wounded  compan- 
ions, making  them  as  comfortable  as  possible 
on  beds  of  boughs  covered  with  blankets.  I 
took  advantage  of  their  inaction  to  learn  how 
Buck  had  succeeded  in  delivering-  his  message 
to  the  scout  he  was  to  meet  at  Huntsville.  As 
I  could  not  question  him  before  the  others 
without  giving  up  my  secret,  I  drew  hnii  into 
the  cleft  behind  us. 

"  Buck,  did  you  find  the  man  I  sent  you  to 
meet  at  Huntsville  ?" 

"Reckon  I  did." 

"  Tell  me  about  it." 

"  All  right.  As  soon  as  I  got  into  town  I  went 
right  to  the  squar',  'n'  stopped  in  front  o'  the 
hotel.  I  hitched  my  pony  to  a  post,  'n'  went 
inside.    A  man  in  the  office  said, '  Sonny,  what 


BELEAGUERED  135 

d'  y'  want  V  'n'  I  said,  '  I'm  c^oen'  up  on  the  gal- 
lery,' 'n'  he  said, '  What  fo'  T  'n'  I  said, '  Fo'  t' 
see  the  town.'  Then  I  went  up-stairs  'n'  wait- 
ed till  I  heard  the  clock  striken',  'n'  counted 
thi'teen." 

"  Not  thirteen,  Buck.  Clocks  don't  strike 
thirteen." 

"  Well,  don't  y'  see,  that  clock  at  Huntsville 
's  a  different  kind.  It  struck  either  thi'teen 
or  fo'teen,  I  couldn't  tell  which." 

"Never  mind  the  clock.  You're  inventing 
all  this.     Go  on." 

"  Well,  just  as  the  clock  struck,  a  man  he 
came  out  on  to  the  gallery.  He  had  the  dog- 
gonest  eyes  I  ever  saw — just  like  the  wolf's  in 
Red  Riding-liood.  At  first  he  didn't  take  any 
notice  o'  me,  looken'  's  if  he  was  bothered 
'cause  I  Avas  thar,  'n'  he  expected  somebody. 
Then  he  Avatched  me  with  those  sharp  eyes  o' 
his'n,  'n'  at  last  he  said,  kind  o'  gruff, '  'T's  a 
fine  day,  boy,'  'n'  I  said,  said  I — what  was  it  I 
Avas  to  say  ?" 

"  '  Reckon  you'i'e  weather-wise,  stranger.'  " 

"  Oh  3'es,  I  know  ;  but  I  couldn't  remember 
'zactl}',  'n'  I  said,  said  I,  '  Reckon  yo're  weather- 
beaten,  stranger.'  He  stood  a  looken'  at  me 
kind    o'    quar,   'n'    I    heard    him    a   grunten' 


136  SWEET    REVENGE 

somep'n  like,  '  Guess  I  am  beat,  somehow  or 
'nuther.'  Then  he  asked  me  somep'n  "bout 
whether  it  was  a  rainen'  at  the  time  of  the — 
what  was  that  one?'' 

" '  The  massacre."  " 

"  Oh  yes,  I  know.  And  I  said — what  was 
it  I  said  ?" 

"  '  Bkick  as  night.'  " 

"That's  it;  only  I  fo'got,  'n'  said,  'Black 
as  a  doggone  nigger,'  and  he  said,  '  What's 
the—  " 

" '  Word.' " 

"'What's  the  word?'  'n'  I  took  the  spitball 
out  o'  my  mouth  'n'  handed  it  to  him.  He  took 
it  'n'  read  it  mighty  quick.  Then  he  looked  at 
me  and  said,  '  I'll  be  goldarned  if  that  ain't 
the  littlest  messenger  to  carry  such  a  big  mes- 
sage I  ever  saw  in  my  life !  Like  attacken'  a 
fortyfication  with  a  how'tzer.'  " 

"  What  did  he  do  then  ?" 

"I  don'  want  t'  tell  that." 

"  Why  not  ?" 

"Well,  he  must  'a'  thought  I  was  a  baby.'' 

"  Come,  out  with  it." 

"  He  took  me  up  and  give  me  a  kiss,  rubben' 
my  face  with  that  hairy  beard  o'  his'n." 

"Then  what?" 


BELEAGUERED  137 

"He  went  down -stairs  in  a  hurry,  and  I 
didn't  see  him  any  mo'." 

"  Good  for  3'ou !  Have  you  kept  it  all  a 
secret  ?" 

"  Haven't  said  a  word  to  any  one." 

"That's  right.  You've  done  me  a  great 
favor,  and  one  good  turn  deserves  another. 
I'm  going  to  tell  you  how  to  cure  yourself  of 
that  bad  habit  of  using  useless  adjectives.  H 
you  ever  get  out  of  this,  get  a  note-book  and 
pencil,  and  every  time  you  use  one  of  them 
note  it  down.  This  will  show  you  how  often 
you  offend,  and  at  last  you  will  break  yourself 
of  a  very  bad  habit." 

"  I'll  do  that,  by  golly  !" 

At  noon  we  Avere  again  tantalized  at  seeing 
the  guerrillas  eating  their  dinner. 

"I  wonder  what  they  got?"  said  Buck.  "  I 
reckon  't's  nothen'  but  fat  pork,  anyway.  Who 
wants  to  eat  fat  pork  ?" 

"  I  wish  I  could  get  my  clutches  on  the  cap- 
tain," said  Jack, "I'd  make  him  give  me  some." 

"De  Lord  '11  feed  His  chil'n,"  remarked 
Ginger.  "  Didn'  He  send  de  ravens  to  Elijah  ?" 

"Not  in  these  mountains,"  put  in  Buck. 
"  Ravens  couldn't  find  an3'thing  up  here  to 
feed  anybody  with." 


138  SWEET    REVENGE 

"Reckon  dat  raus'  'a'  been  in  a  land  flowen' 
wid  milk  'n'  honey,"  supplemented  Ginger. 

"  Yo'  ole  fool,"  retorted  Buck,  "  how  could 
a  raven  carrj^  milk  ?" 

"  Don't  be  so  smart,  Buck,"  said  Jack.  "  A 
raven  could  take  the  handle  of  a  tin  bucket  in 
its  mouth  and  fly  with  it,  couldn't  he?" 

Then  Jack  and  Buck  fell  to  v^'ing  with  each 
other  which  could  invent  the  most  remarkable 
fabrications  about  the  wherewithal  to  satisfy 
their  hunger. 

"  I  see  a  darky  coming,"  said  Jack,  "  v»'ith 
a  white  apron  and  cap,  and  a  tra}'  on  his  head 
covered  with  good  things  to  eat." 

"  That's  nothen',"  said  Buck.  "  I  see  a  roast- 
ed goose  waddlen'  up  the  hill  with  the  stuiBn' 
tumblen'  out  of  a  hole  in  his  breast." 

"Yo'  little  fibber,  yo'  don't  see  any  such 
thing.  I'll  tell  yo'  what  /  see.  I  see  a  big 
table  down  there  among  the  guerrillas  covered 
with  smoking  beef  and  chicken  and  lamb  with 
mint  sauce  running  all  over  it,  and  peas  and 
asparagus.     Come,  let's  go  and  get  some." 

She  was  so  earnest  about  it  that  I  feared  she 
would;  indeed,she  started,  but  Helen  caught  and 
drew  her  back.  Throwing  herself  into  Helen's 
arms,  she  covered  her  face  with  her  hands. 


XIV 
A   BONTIRE   DEFENCE 

Morning,  noon,  afternoon  passed  with  no 
change  in  the  situation.  All  my  command 
slept  during  the  day,  and  even  I  got  two  or 
three  hours  of  tired  nature's  sweet  restorer, 
though  I  Avould  not  close  my  eyes  till  Helen 
had  promised  not  to  talce  hers  off  the  guerril- 
las till  I  awoke.  During  the  afternoon  all  be- 
ofan  to  suffer  from  huncrer,  but  I  would  not 
allow  the  scanty  bit  of  food  remaining  to  be 
eaten.  Buck  got  over  the  noon  meal  bravely, 
but  when  supper-time  came  he  clamored  for 
something  to  eat. 

"Now,  see  hyar,  Mr.  Brand vstone,"  he  ar- 
gued, "  you  just  give  me  my  shar'  'n'  I  won't 
want  any  mo'  when  the  rest  of  yo'  have 
yo's." 

"  You  must  wait,  Buck  ;  we  shall  have  to 
fast  long  enough,  anyway.  The  longer  be- 
tween meals  the  lono:er  we  can  hold  out." 


140  SWEET    KEVENGE 

"  All  right,"  he  said,  bravely,  "  I  can  hold 
out  as  long  as  any  of  yo'." 

As  evenino:  came  on  a  horrible  thous:ht 
loomed  up  suddenly.  If  the  night  should  be 
dark,  there  was  nothing  to  prevent  the  guer- 
rillas stealing  up  on  us  unawares,  and  captur- 
ing our  strono-hold. 

"  Imust  find  a  way  out  of  this,"  I  muttered, 
and  began  an  examination  of  the  face  of  the 
rock  in  our  rear.  The  cleft  where  water  drip- 
ped slanted  upward,  a  narrow  opening  little 
wider  than  a  man's  body.  I  crawled  into  the 
crevice,  and,  by  using  hands  and  feet,  mount- 
ed to  the  summit.  I  stood  enchanted  by 
the  splendid  view.  Northward  and  eastward 
the  Cumberland  Mountains  reared  their  heads, 
a  succession  of  wooded  crests ;  westward  the 
fair  plain  of  Middle  Tennessee  ;  southward. 
Confederate  territory  cut  off  from  us  by  war, 
and  setting  aflame  the  imagination  as  to  what 
was  taking  place  in  the  new-born  nation.  An 
undulating  horizon  divided  the  black  earth 
from  the  scarlet  sky  left  by  the  setting  sun. 

Scrambling  over  the  uneven  ground,  climb- 
ing rocks,  fighting  my  way  through  thickets, 
I  explored  every  promise  of  outlet.  There  was 
not   a   possible   descent.      I  returned  to   the 


A    BONFIRE    DEFENCE  141 

mouth  of  the  crevice,  intending  to  rejoin  my 
companions.  I  heard  some  one  clambering  up, 
and,  looking  down,  saw  Helen  Stanforth.  Giv- 
ing her  my  hand,  I  helped  her  to  level  ground. 

"  You  and  I,"  I  said,  "  should  not  be  absent 
from  the  front  at  the  same  time." 

"  Tell  me,"  she  said,  fixing  her  e3'es  on  me 
intentl}'',  "  what  I  want  to  know.  I  have  led 
Jaqueline,  Buck,  and  Ginger  into  this  trap  in 
an  attempt  to  save  you.  The  least  I  can  ex- 
pect is  your  confidence.     Who  are  you?" 

Our  lives  depended  on  absolute  devotion  to 
each  other.  If  I  should  tell  her  that  I  was  a 
Southern  man  holding  a  commission  in  the 
Yankee  army,  that  I  had  sent  information 
North  to  enable  a  Union  general  to  capture 
the  region  about  her  home,  I  should  sap  our 
main  element  of  strength.  On  the  other  hand, 
I  was  accepting  all  this  devotion  under  false 
pretences.  The  thought  was  maddening.  Had 
she  not  been  looking  at  me  Avith  her  big,  hon- 
est eyes,  I  believe  I  should  have  shed  tears  of 
anguish. 

"  Miss  Stanforth — Helen,"  I  said,  "  who  and 
what  I  am  can  be  of  no  moment  now  Avith 
death  staring  us  in  the  face.  You  and  I  have 
a  mutual  purpose — to  save  those  who  have 


142  SWEET    REVENGE 

been  led  into  this  peril.  There  is  no  time  for 
explanations.  I  beg  of  you  to  banish  for  the 
time  this  secret,  and  think  only  of  the  work 
before  us." 

She  turned  her  eyes  out  to  the  far-distant 
horizon,  but  did  not  see  it,  intent  on  her  own 
thoughts.  Then,  looking  again  at  me,  she  said, 
with  a  burst  of  impulse  : 

"  To  know  that  you  are  unworthy  would 
kill  me." 

I  bowed  my  head  to  escape  her  gaze.  When 
I  looked  again  she  had  turned  and  was  enter- 
ing the  crevice. 

Having  failed  to  find  an  outlet  in  our  rear, 
we  had  no  choice  but  to  face  our  enemies.  I 
cast  my  eyes  over  the  only  route  open  to  a 
night  surprise.  On  our  right,  not  far  below, 
w^as  the  bare  face  of  a  rock  twenty  feet  hio^h, 
around  which  was  no  path.  To  the  left  an- 
other rock  projected  in  such  fashion  that  while 
an  enemy  climbed  over  it  his  silhouette  would 
appear  against  the  sky.  Noticing  an  abun- 
dance of  fire-wood  scattered  about,  I  resolved 
to  build  a  bonfire,  with  a  view  to  lighting  up 
our  enemies  should  they  attempt  to  steal  upon 
us  in  the  night.  As  soon  as  it  Avas  dark 
enough  I  sent  Buck  and  Ginger  out  to  gather 


A    BONFIRE    DEFENCE  143 

wood,  and,  selecting  a  fiat  rock  midway  be- 
tween those  on  the  flanks,  scooped  together 
some  light  dry  stuff  for  kindling,  and  as  fast 
as  the  wood  was  brought  me  put  it  on.  When 
all  was  ready  we  returned  to  our  fortress. 

But  how  light  a  flre^  There  was  not  a 
match  in  the  party ;  indeed,  the  only  means  of 
ignition  we  possessed  was  a  percussion-cap.  I 
sacrificed  two  cartridges,  and  poured  the  pow- 
der they  contained  into  a  bit  of  paper,  intend- 
ing to  explode  it  with  percussion-powder. 

Night  attacks  always  occur  just  before  dawn, 
and  I  felt  confident  that  we  should  hear  from 
the  guerrillas,  if  at  all,  between  two  and  three 
o'clock  in  the  mornin"-.  At  one  I  awoke  the 
command  and  issued  our  remaining  ration.  It 
was  eaten  ravenously,  and  when  the  last  mor- 
sel had  been  consumed  I  told  all  to  be  ready 
at  the  slightest  sound.  I  was  going  down  to 
the  unlighted  fire,  and  in  case  they  heard  me 
hammering  the  percussion-powder  they  would 
know  I  had  heard  the  enemy  approaching. 
Then,  taking  Jack's  revolver,  I  sallied  forth. 

I  passed  down  to  my  fire-wood,  inspected  it 
to  see  that  it  was  all  right,  then  went  on  far- 
ther, crawling  on  my  stomach  and  listening. 
Noticing  what  in  the  darkness  I  supposed  to 


144  SWEET    REVENGE 

be  a  log,  I  resolved  to  crawl  up  behind  it  for 
concealment.  On  reaching  it  I  raised  my 
head  and  looked  down  into  the  face  of  a  dead 
man.  It  was  the  body  of  one  of  the  guerrillas 
we  had  shot  during  the  day.  This  uncanny 
object,  encountered  at  dead  of  night,  startled 
me.  There  was  the  ghastly  skin,  the  sunken 
cheek,  the  open  mouth,  while  the  eyes  were 
staring  up  at  the  heavens  as  if  they  saw  won- 
ders hidden  from  the  living.  I  drew  back.  A 
consciousness  of  the  horrors  that  awaited  us 
struck  me  like  a  gust  of  cold  wind.  Perhaps 
before  morning  Helen  Stanforth,  or  Jaque- 
line,  or  little  Buck,  or  all  of  us,  would  be  Ij^ing 
stiff  and  stark  like  that  dead  guerrilla. 

Then  a  greater  strength,  a  daring,  a  cun- 
ning never  before  felt  welled  within  me.  I 
crawled  on  till  I  came  so  near  the  guerrilla 
camp  that  I  could  have  thrown  a  stone  into 
it.  They  had  no  fire,  and  this  in  itself  was 
suspicious.  I  thought  I  heard  a  voice,  but 
it  was  doubtless  some  animal  or  a  bird  giving 
a  note  of  warning  to  its  mate.  I  listened, 
but  could  hear  nothing  which  I  knew  to  be 
human.  At  last  I  sat  down  on  a  rock,  and 
began  what  to  me  seemed  an  endless  vigil. 

It  was,  perhaps,  an  hour  after  that  I  heard 


A    BONFIRE    DEFENCE  145 

unmistakable  sounds  of  the  guerrillas.  I  could 
see  nothing,  though  I  could  hear  voices,  and 
voices  at  that  time  of  night  meant  mischief. 
Darting  back  to  my  wood  I  set  the  paper  of 
gunpowder  on  the  rock  under  the  dry  grass, 
keeping  a  little  in  reserve,  and  got  a  stone 
ready  to  use  for  a  hammer,  then  listened  for 
a  sign  of  advance.  I  had  not  long  to  wait.  A 
man  must  have  stumbled ;  at  any  rate,  I  heard 
something  which  convinced  me  the  enemy 
was  coming,  and,  laying  on  my  percussion- 
powder,  I  raised  the  stone  and  brought  it 
down. 

Horror  of  horrors!  The  grass  was  blown 
away  without  being  kindled.  The  last  chance 
was  gone!  It  was  dark  as  pitch;  not  even  a 
ray  of  moonlight  to  protect  us  against  the 
coming  cutthroats. 

Wait  a  bit.  There  are  several  spears  of 
grass  smouldering,  a  spark  on  the  end  of  each. 
I  gather  them,  and  put  tiie  ember  ends  into 
the  hollow  of  my  hand,  where  I  hold  the  re- 
serve gunpowder.  A  flash  —  a  mere  bit  of 
flame  no  bigger  than  a  pea !  I  nurse  it  and 
put  more  grass  with  it,  shove  it  all  under  the 
wood,  and  a  beautiful  bright  flame  shoots  up 
that  gladdens  my  heart.    A  joyful  shout  from 


146  SWEET    REVENGE 

the  fort  sends  a  pleasant  thrill  through  every 
fibre  in  my  body. 

Ping!  A  bullet  within  an  inch  of  my  nose. 
I  dart  away  into  the  darkness,  and  in  another 
minute  am  in  the  fortress. 

I  had  scarcely  got  behind  the  breastworks 
when  the  glare  of  the  burning  wood  showed 
me  half  a  dozen  men  dashing  up  to  the  fire, 
and  I  knew  they  would  try  to  scatter  it. 

"When  I  count  three,  fire  into  the  crowd. 
One !  two !  three  !" 

Four  bullets  flew  at  the  little  knot  of  men 
below.  We  could  not  see  who  was  hit,  but 
all  turned  and  started  down  the  declivity, 
though  one  man  dropped  before  he  had  gone 
a  dozen  yards.  We  lost  no  time  in  reloading, 
and  had  a  new  charge  ready  in  every  piece 
before  seeing  any  signs  of  their  return.  But 
Buck,  who  took  more  time  and  made  more 
fuss  about  his  work  than  all  the  rest  together, 
had  scarcely  rammed  his  charge  home  and 
fixed  the  percussion  -  cap  on  the  nipple  when 
three  men  made  a  dash  at  the  fire.  Two  of 
them  reached  it  and  began  to  kick  vigorously. 
I  took  deliberate  aim  at  one  of  them  and  shot 
him  through  the  head.  My  gun  had  scarcely 
cracked  Avhen  Helen  let  drive  at  the  remain- 


A   BONFIEE   DEFENCE  147 

ing  man.  He  staggered,  but  kept  on  kicking 
at  the  fire.  I  snatched  Buck's  gun  and  fin- 
ished him,  dropping  him  on  the  burning 
brands.  The  third  man,  who  had  started  for- 
ward several  times  and  each  time  turned  back, 
got  out  of  sight  as  quickly  as  possible. 

"Look  a'  dar!"  cried  Ginger,  pointing  to 
the  east. 

I  turned  my  head,  and  there  above  the  hori- 
zon was  the  faintest  trace  of  dawn. 


XV 
WOMAN'S  PLUCK 

After  this  second  defeat  we  conld  see  the 
guerrillas  gathered  in  a  knot,  evidently  dis- 
cussing the  situation.  They  talked  so  loud 
that  we  could  often  catcli  a  word,  and  their 
gesticulations  were  plain  to  us  all.  At  last 
the  captain  took  a  white  handkerchief  from 
his  pocket,  fixed  it  to  a  stick,  and,  holding  it 
over  his  head,  advanced  towards  us. 

"A  flag  of  truce!"  we  all  exclaimed  to- 
gether. 

"  He's  going  to  offer  us  something  to  eat  I'' 
cried  Jack.    '•  I  knew  he  Avouldn't  let  us  starve." 

I  stepped  over  the  breastworks  to  go  and 
meet  the  bearer  of  the  flag.     Buck  called  out : 

"  Tell  him  I'll  take  some  fried  chicken  fo' 
mine." 

I  met  the  captain  at  the  spot  Avhere  we  had 
built  our  fire.  His  arm  was  in  a  sling  and  he 
was  very  pale.      Something  told  me  that  he 


WOMAN  S    PLUCK  149 

did  not  relish  the  work  ia  which  he  was  en- 
gaged. 

"I've  come  to  tell  you,"  he  said,  "that  if 
ycjll  surrender,  the  rest  of  yo'  people  can  go." 

"  What  assurance  have  I  that  you  will  keep 
the  terms  ?" 

"  The  word  of  a — "  He  stopped.  I  saw 
that  habit  had  led  him  to  use  an  expression 
common  among  gentlemen  in  the  South,  but 
the  word  had  stuck  in  his  throat. 

"  Captain,"  I  said,  "  you  are  a  better  man 
than  the  company  you  keep.  Satisfy  me  that 
the  women,  the  boy,  and  the  negro  shall  go 
free,  and  you  are  welcome  to  ?«<?." 

"  The  men  are  divided  about  the  women," 
he  replied,  lowering  his  voice. 

"  Which  party  holds  the  balance  of  power?" 

"  It's  hard  to  tell." 

"  Then  we  have  no  assurance  that  if  we 
surrender  you  can  keep  your  promise  to  let 
them  go  unharmed  ?" 

"  There's  no  telling.  Befo'  your  escape  and 
the  killing  yo'  all  have  been  doing  I  could 
have  fixed  it.  But  the  men  are  exasperated 
at  the  damage  you've  done." 

"  Can't  you  be  blind,  and  let  us  out  to- 
night ?" 


150  SWEET    REVENGE 

"No;  Fv^e  lost  more  control  of  my  men 
within  the  last  few  days  than  all  the  time  I've 
commanded  them.  If  they  saw  the  slight- 
est move  on  my  part  to  let  yo'  slip,  they'd 
shoot  me,  and  yo'  would  never  get  out  alive, 
either.  I  can't  stand  here  talking  any  longer. 
They'll  suspect  something.  What's  yo'  an- 
swer ?" 

I  turned  the  matter  quickh'^  over  in  my  mind. 

"  Captain,"  I  said,  "  I  will  transmit  your 
proposition.  If  your  terras  are  accepted,  I 
will  go  down  to  your  camp  and  my  friends 
will  follow.  If  they  are  not  accepted,  we  will 
wave  to  you.  In  this  event  you  will  know 
that  these  noble  girls,  this  brave  boy,  this 
faithful  negro,  prefer  to  take  their  chances 
with  me." 

Both  of  us  turned  without  another  word, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  captain  was  with 
his  men,  and  I  had  joined  my  little  half-starved 
army.  I  was  received  with  eager,  question- 
ing looks. 

"  He  has  made  a  proposition,"  I  said.  "  I 
will  give  it  to  you  with  the  information  that 
goes  with  it.  If  we  will  surrender,  he  prom- 
ises that  all  shall  go  free  except  me." 

I  paused  a  moment  to  watch  the  expression 


woman's  pluck  151 

of  their  faces.  I  saw  at  once  that  they  were 
all  bitterly  disappointed. 

"  I  feel  bound  to  state  further  that  the  cap- 
tain lias  informed  me  that  he  cannot  surely 
guarantee  your  safety,  though  he  would  if  he 
could.  He  tells  me  that  the  men  are  divided, 
and  he  does  not  know  himself  which  party  is 
the  stronger.  You  are  not  sure  of  safety, 
but  you  have  a  chance,  whereas  if  we  are 
taken  by  force  the  chances  are  all  against 
you.  Before  giving  my  own  views,  I  wish  to 
get  an  expression  of  opinion  from  each  one  of 
you  separately.  Miss  Stanforth,  shall  we  ac- 
cept the  proposition  or  not  ?    Say  yes  or  no." 

She  curled  her  lip.  "  I  don't  care  to  con- 
sider such  a  proposition." 

"  Miss  Rutland  ?" 

"  No !"  cried  little  Jack,  with  a  snap  in  her 
eye. 

"  Buck  ?" 

"  Reckon  I'd  ruther  stay  whar  I  am  awhile 
longer,  though,  by  golly,  I'm  mighty  hungry." 
He  spoke  the  last  words  very  ruefully. 

"Ginger?" 

"I  ain't  no  traitor-man,  mars',  ef  I  air  black. 
Ginger  hain't  gwine  t'  talk  'bout  gibben  no- 
body up  t'  save  hisself." 


153  SWEET    REVENGE 

"My  friends,"  I  said,  and  I  could  not  re- 
press a  tremor  in  my  voice,  though  God  knows 
I  tried,  "  I  cannot  accept  your  sacrifice.  The 
guerrillas,  having  secured  me,  will  doubtless 
quarrel  about  you,  and  the  captain  and  those 
who  are  with  him  may  find  an  opportunity  to 
let  you  get  away  under  cover  of  the  night." 

"No!  no!"  cried  all.  "  AYe'U  stand  to- 
gether." 

"How  were  you  to  repl}^?"  asked  Helen. 

"  If  the  terms  were  accepted,  we  were  to  go 
down ;  if  rejected,  we  w^ere  to  wave." 

Helen  took  off  her  check  bonnet,  and,  ty- 
ing it  to  a  carbine,  stood  up  on  the  rocks  and 
waved  it  to  the  guerrillas,  who  were  standing 
below  watching  for  our  signal,  while  our  little 
command  gave  as  lusty  a  cheer  as  their  ex- 
hausted condition  would  admit. 

But  the  real  heroism  was  yet  to  come.  I 
had  seen  evidence  that  the  woman  wing  of  my 
army  was  not  to  be  appalled  at  any  propo- 
sition, but  it  was  impossible  that  I  could  be 
prepared  for  what  was  to  follows  I  have 
sometimes  wondered  if  it  was  not  rather  an 
emanation  of  genius  than  heroism,  but  have 
invariably  concluded  that  it  was  the  genius 
of  heroism. 


WOMAN  S   PLUCK  153 

The  first  flush  of  excitement  at  the  rejection 
of  the  terms  being  over,  Jack  began  to  show 
signs  of  irritation — a  condition  I  attributed  to 
the  gnawing  pangs  of  hunger.  She  shook  her 
fist  at  the  guerrillas,  vowing  that  if  she  could 
ever  get  her  papa  again  he  should  scour  the 
country  till  he  had  captured  every  one  of 
them,  and  when  captured  she  would  herself 
take  inexpressible  pleasure  in  making  targets 
of  them  for  pistol-practice.  Then  she  would 
call  to  them  for  something  to  eat.  They  were 
too  far  to  hear  her,  and,  of  course,  her  request 
would  not  have  been  granted  if  they  had. 
"Captain!  good  captain!  dear  captain!''  she 
cried,  "  do  let  us  out  of  this ;  that's  a  dear 
boy."  Then  she  turned  to  JMiss  Stanforth. 
"  Helen,  what  in  the  world  did  we  come  on 
such  an  errand  as  this  fo'  ?  Why  didn't  we 
send  the  soldiers  ?" 

"  Jack,"  said  Helen,  "  I'm  sorry  you  regret 
it.    /don't;  I  never  regret." 

"  Yo're  showen'  the  white  feather/'  said 
Buck. 

Jack's  ej^es  glistened  with  anger. 

"  The  white  feather !  What  do  yo'  mean,  yo' 
little  pest  ?  White  feather  !  I'm  not  afraid  of 
all  the  guerrillas  in  Christendom.    They  won't 


154  SWEET    REVENGE 

hurt  7ne.  I'm  going  down  there  to  ask  'em  fo* 
something  to  eat.  I'll  get  3^0'  all  off.  White 
feather!     I'll  show  yo?^ .^" 

She  sprang  upon  the  rampart,  but  I  cauglit 
her  and  dragged  her  back. 

"  Let  me  go  !"  she  screamed. 

"  Didn'  I  tole  yo'  Missy  Jack  hab  de 
biggest  temper  in  de  Souf?"  cried  Ginger, 
proudly. 

"  Let  her  go,"  said  Helen,  "  and  I'll  go  with 
her.  If  those  of  the  guerrillas  Avho  are  dis- 
posed to  protect  us  can  do  so  they  will  suc- 
ceed as  well  without  you  as  with  you.  In- 
deed, your  presence  Avill  only  tend  to  irritate 
them.     Come,  Jack,  we'll  try  it." 

I  stood  aghast  at  such  a  plan.  I  forbade  it. 
The  girls  were  determined.  I  begged,  order- 
ed, stormed  at  them,  declaring  that  for  every 
step  they  took  towards  that  den  of  hell-hounds 
I  would  take  two.  At  last  Helen  laid  her  hand 
on  my  sleeve  and  looked  me  calmly  in  the  eye. 

"Major  Branderstane,  I  want  you  to  let  me 
have  my  way  in  this  matter.  You  owe  it  to 
me.  When  you  were  wounded  I  took  j^ou  in 
and  succored  you.  Since  we  have  been  in 
this  place  I  have  obeyed  your  every  order. 
Jack  has  flashed    out  unknowingly,  uninten- 


WOMAN  S    PLUCK  155 

tionally,  a  stroke  of  genius.  Jack  is  a  genius. 
She  has  hit  on  our  only  chance.  She  fascinat- 
ed the  guerrillas  once,  and  she'll  do  it  again. 
She  will  split  them  in  halves,  and  set  one-half 
against  the  other.  But  she  will  need  7ne. 
Give  me  that  revolver." 

All  this  was  lost  on  me.  I  swore  they 
should  not  go.  I  planted  mj^self  between 
them  and  the  rampart.  Helen  stepped  to  one 
side  of  me,  Jack  darted  to  the  other.  Ginger 
put  his  hand  on  my  arm. 

"  Don't  stop  Missy  Jack,  mars'.  Missy  Jack 
can  do  eberyting  Avid  men-folks."  He  turned 
ni}^  face  to  the  cliff.  "  Look  dat  a  way,  an'  yo' 
won't  see  hit." 

When  I  broke  from  the  old  man  Helen  and 
Jack  were  beyond  the  rampart. 

I  have  seen  lifeboat-men  pull  out  in  a  tem- 
pestuous sea,  breasting  a  howling  wind  and 
madly  tossing  billows.  I  have  seen  men  march 
out  to  battle  with  almost  a  certainty  of  death 
or  mutilation,  but  I  have  never  looked  upon 
any  sight  with  the  mingled  terror  and  admira- 
tion that  thrilled  me  as  I  beheld  these  two 
girls,  without  other  weapon  than  woman's 
loveliness,  descend  the  rocky  slope  towards  the 
guerrilla  camp.     They  moved,  hand  in  hand, 


156  SWEET   REVENGE 

as  I  have  seen  graceful  ships  sail  side  by  side. 
Helen  was  the  taller  and  the  more  command- 
ing, but  both  walked  erect ;  Helen  buoyed  by 
a  native  courage,  Jaqueline  confident  in  the 
possession  of  a  gift,  a  genius  for  bending  men 
to  her  Avill. 

They  had  scarcely  left  us  when  the  guer- 
rillas caught  sight  of  them  and  stood  looking 
up  in  stupid  wonder.  Ginger,  Buck,  and  I 
were  staring  down  upon  them.  Ginger's  eyes 
starting  out  of  his  head,  Buck  leaning  ex- 
citedly over  the  rampart,  I  clutching  my  car- 
bine. On  went  the  girls,  between  the  flank- 
ing rocks,  out  upon  a  gentle  swell,  through  a 
slight  depression,  over  stones,  weeds,  brambles, 
till  at  last  they  came  within  fifty  yards  of  tlie 
guerrilla  camp.  Then  came  a  cheer  from  the 
bandits — I  knew  not  whether  of  triumph  or 
welcome — and  the  girls  entered  the  camp. 

What  they  said,  what  was  said  to  them,  I 
could  not  hear — I  could  only  see.  Captain 
Ringoid  raised  his  hat  and  stood  Avitli  it  in  his 
hand.  He  was  evidently  speaking,  for  the 
men  gathered  round,  and  all  seemed  to  be  in- 
tent on  him  and  the  girls.  Then  I  saw  Helen 
step  a  little  to  the  front,  and  all  faces  were 
turned  to  her.     Occasionallv  she  made  a  g-est- 


woman's  pluck  157 

lire,  now  turning  to  our  little  fortress,  now 
pointing  the  finger  of  scorn  at  the  guerrillas, 
as  though  to  shame  them  or  to  influence  what- 
ever of  manliness  there  might  be  in  them.  She 
Avas  making  them  a  long  speech — at  least,  it 
seemed  so  to  me,  who  could  see  but  not  hear. 
At  last  there  was  a  cheer.  The  conference 
was  ended. 

Then  the  little  actress,  Jaqueline,  was  evi- 
dently using  her  art.  She  would  whisk  up  to 
one  of  the  men,  stand  before  him  in  a  favorite 
position  of  hers,  bent  slightly  forward,  and 
shake  her  linger  in  his  face.  All  the  men  stood 
watching  her.  Occasionally  there  came  a 
burst  of  laughter,  a  yell  of  applause,  a  clap- 
ping of  hands,  and  I  knew  that  Jack  was  car- 
rying her  audience. 

Then  I  could  see  the  fig-ures  below  beo;inninof 
to  busy  themselves  about  preparations  for  sup- 
per. Helen  and  Jack  took  hold  as  they  had 
done  once  before,  the  men  permitting  them  to 
do  the  work. 

Buck,  beside  me,  chuckled. 

"  What  is  it.  Buck  ?" 

"  That  consarned  Jack's  goen'  roun'  thar 
with  the  skillet  in  one  han'  and  chawen'  some- 
p'n  she's  got  in  the  other.     Wish  I  was  thar." 


158     ■  SWEET    KEVENGE 

When  supper  was  served  each  man  vied 
with  the  others  to  provide  for  their  guests. 
Jack  was  seated  on  the  ground,  her  back  rest- 
ing against  a  tree,  a  plate  in  her  lap,  a  tin  cup 
at  her  side,  evidently  making  a  hearty  supper, 
keeping  the  men  running  back  and  forth  from 
the  fire,  filling  her  plate  or  her  cup  at  every 
trip. 

After  supper  we  could  see  that  the  confer- 
ence was  resumed  between  Helen  and  the 
guerrillas.  She  Avas  evidently  arguing  with 
them  to  effect  a  purpose.  The  captain  had  a 
good  deal  to  say,  but  all  were  taking  part  in 
the  debate.  Then  the  girls  started  for  our 
fort.  One  of  the  men  approached  the  captain 
and  shook  a  fist  in  his  face.  The  captain 
knocked  him  down.  Another  started  after 
the  retreating  party,  but  was  intercepted.  A 
general  fight  ensued,  some  of  the  men  placing 
themselves  between  the  others  and  the  girls, 
who  were  now  coming  up  the  hill,  quickening 
their  pace  at  every  step.  Cocking  my  car- 
bine, I  ran  down  to  join  the  girls,  meeting 
them  midway  between  the  fort  and  the  guer- 
rilla camp.  First  Jack  came  dashing  past  me, 
wild  with  terror,  her  cheeks  blanched,  her  eyes 
starino-.     Helen  came  on  more  slowlv,  turnino- 


WOMAN  S    PLUCK  159 

occasionally  with  hot  cheeks  and  flashing  eye. 
Below  among  the  guerrillas  was  a  babel — 
swearing,  howling,  and  shooting,  the  protect- 
ing party  being  the  stronger  and  keeping  the 
others  at  bay.  I  put  my  arm  behind  Helen, 
and  hurried  her  up  the  steep  slope.  When  we 
got  to  the  fort  Jack  was  already  there,  crouch- 
ing behind  the  rampart,  her  head  appearing 
above  it,  her  eyes  as  big  as  saucers. 

"  Goody  gracious,  what  a  fool  I  was  to  go 
down  there  !  Wouldn't  do  it  again  fo'  any- 
thing." 

Helen  gave  me  a  hurried  account  of  the 
visit.  On  entering  the  camp  the  captain  had 
complimented  them  upon  their  bravery,  both 
in  the  fig'hts  that  had  occurred  and  in  coming: 
out  unarmed,  assuring  them  —  lookinfj:  omi- 
nously  at  some  of  the  more  cutthroat  of  his 
men — that  if  any  man  offered  them  the  slight- 
est indignity  he  would  shoot  him  on  the  spot. 
Helen  had  replied  that  whatever  they  were, 
she  believed  they  were  brave,  and  above  in- 
juring a  Avoman.  Then  she  held  up  to  them 
the  magnitude  of  their  crimes,  and  bade  them 
go  and  enlist  in  the  Confederate  army.  She 
succeeded  in  getting  an  oifer  of  a  free  con- 
duct to  all  save  me;  this  they  persistently  re- 


160  SWEET    REVENGE 

fused.  After  much  urging  the  captain  agreed 
that  Ave  should  be  let  alone  till  the  next  morn- 
ing— a  promise  on  which  I  placed  no  reliance. 
Helen  begged  to  be  permitted  to  carry  me 
provisions.     This  was  also  refused. 

"  I  did  all  I  could,"  she  said,  ruefully,  "but 
I  couldn't  move  even  the  captain.  They 
wouldn't  give  me  a  morsel  for  you." 

"  Oh,  Helen,"  said  Jack,  "  I'm  tired  of  hear- 
ing yo'  whine,"  and  taking  off  her  sunbonnet. 
out  rolled  a  liberal  supply  of  corn-pone  and 
salt  pork. 

"You  little  thief!"  cried  Helen,  and  threw 
her  arms  around  her  cousin. 

A  second  time  my  life  had  been  saved,  at 
least  temporarily,  by  Jaqueline. 


XVI 

A  BUGLE-CALL 

The  night  passed  without  an  attack.  I  pre- 
pared a  fire  as  before,  but  it  was  not  needed. 
Day  dawned,  and  we  could  see  that  the  guer- 
rillas had  made  themselves  more  comfortable, 
having  constructed  a  rude  hut  of  boughs  for 
shelter,  showing  conclusivel}''  that  they  in- 
tended to  wait  patiently  for  the  starving  proc- 
ess to  do  its  work.  During  the  day  the 
remnant  of  the  provisions  Jack  had  purloined 
was  consumed,  and  the  command  Avas  supper- 
less.  Again  we  entered  upon  a  long,  weary 
night.  All  except  myself  were  so  worn  that 
they  evinced  little  care  for  watching.  They 
were  getting  benumbed,  a  condition  which 
comes  at  last  over  one  hunted  for  his  life. 
As  for  me,  my  position  was  harrowing.  My 
devoted  friends  who  had  made  the  attempt 
to  rescue  me  were  starving,  and,  to  crown 
all,  Helen  Stanforth,  who  had  instigated  the 


162  SWEET    REVENGE 

attempt,  planned  it,  and  led  the  others  into 
it,  was  deceived  as  to  my  true  character.  I 
brooded  over  the  situation  till  I  was  well-nigh 
insane.  Then  I  made  a  resolve  —  a  resolve 
that  might  free  the  others,  but  would  end  in 
my  death.  I  would  go  down  to  the  guerrillas 
and  give  myself  up.  It  was  possible  that  my 
case  having  been  disposed  of,  Captain  Kin- 
gold  and  his  adherents  would  be  able  to  pro- 
tect the  girls,  and.  Buck  and  Ginger  being  of 
no  moment  to  the  band,  all  might  go  in  peace. 

But  there  was  an  obstacle  in  the  way  that  I 
knew  would  not  be  easily  overcome — the  oppo- 
sition of  all  my  friends.  It  was  hard  for  me 
to  go  down  to  my  death.  How  could  I  bring 
myself  to  do  so  with  all  these  beloved  ones 
endeavoring  to  prevent  me !  There  was  one 
way  by  which  I  might  render  them  less  averse 
to  the  plan.  By  proclaiming  the  military  mis- 
sion which  had  taken  me  to  Alabama  I  might 
render  myself  an  object  of  hatred  and  con- 
tempt. Despite  the  pain  this  confession  would 
cost  me,  I  resolved  to  make  it. 

At  the  moment  I  took  my  resolution  I  looked 
up  at  Helen,  who  was  always  my  first  ob- 
ject of  thought  before  any  important  move. 
She  was  leanino-  over  the  battlement  looking- 


A    BUGLE-CALL  163 

down  upon  the  guerrillas.  In  her  face  was  a 
strength,  an  honesty  such  as  I  had  never  seen 
before  on  that  of  any  woman.  My  resolve 
dwindled  before  that  heroic  countenance.  I 
could  not  turn  her  sublime  faith  in  me  to  de- 
testation. 

However,  my  purpose  to  end  the  struggle 

by  my  own  surrender  was  unchanged.    Rising, 

I  called  out  in  a  tone  which  at  once  attracted 

attention  and  denoted  that  I  had  something  of 

'  importance  to  say, 

"  Dear  friends  I" 

All  looked  at  me  inquiringly. 

"  I  am  going  down  there  to  give  myself  up; 
then  you  can  go  free." 

Helen's  gaze  bespoke  not  only  her  astonish- 
ment but  dismay. 

"  What  yo'  going  to  do  that  fo'  ?"  asked 
Jack,  quickly. 

"  Because  I  owe  it  to  you  all  to  do  so." 

"  I'm  goen'  with  yo',"  said  Buck. 

"  You  will  do  no  such  thing ;  you  must  stand 
by  your  sister  and  cousin." 

"  What  d'  y'  want  to  leave  us  in  the  lurch 
fo'  ?"  said  Jack,  impatiently. 

This  imputed  motive  brought  a  fresh  addi- 
tion to  my  distress.    Even  with  a  perfect  under- 


164  SWEET   REVENGE 

standing  between  me  and  the  others  my  burden 
was  hard  enough  to  bear ;  Jack's  taunt  well- 
nigh  turned  the  scale.  Bending  to  the  cliff,  I 
buried  my  face  in  my  hands.  A  soft  hand 
was  laid  on  mine.  Helen  was  endeavoring  to 
uncover  my  face.  I  turned  and  met  her  gaze 
— strong,  tender,  sympathetic. 

"Your  life  is  not  yours  to  surrender.  You 
must  wait  till  it  is  forced  from  3'^ou," 

"  I  would  be  unworthy  of  your  sublime  de- 
votion should  I  accept  any  further  sacrifice, 
especially  since  it  can  be  of  no  avail." 

"  By  giving  up  now  you  would  turn  all  our 
efforts  to  nothing.  We  shall  have  made  a  fail- 
ure that  will  remain  an  eternal  burden." 

"  It  will  be  light  compared  with  my  self- 
condemnation  when  I  see  you  die  with  me." 

By  this  time  Jack  had  seized  my  other  hand 
with  both  of  hers. 

"  Yo'  can't  go ;  yo'  mustn't  think  of  it.  What 
would  we  do  without  yo'  ?" 

"  Cease  trying  to  make  a  coward  of  me,"  I 
cried,  "  or,  by  God,  I  shall  go  mad." 

I  sprang  towards  the  rampart. 

"  Stop !"  cried  Helen,  imperatively.  "'  I  own 
your  life  to  dispose  of  as  I  will — I  and  Jack. 
Had  it  not  been  for  me,  you  would  have  bled 


A    BUGLE-CALL  165 

to  death  when  you  received  your  wound.  Had 
it  not  been  for  Jack,  you  would  have  ah^eady 
been  murdered  by  the  guerrillas." 

"  Yes,  and  I  am  not  so  base  as  to  pull  niy 
benefactors  down  with  me.     Stand  aside." 

"Hark!"  " 

Jack  spoke  the  word  in  her  quick  way,  pois- 
ing her  head  on  one  side  to  listen.  She  had 
heard  a  low  whistle.  In  another  moment  it 
was  repeated,  seeming  to  come  from  below, 
where  we  had  built  our  bonfire.  A  figure 
was  advancing  through  the  gloom,  holding 
aloft  a  white  handkerchief.  I  jumped  from 
the  rampart  and  ran  down  to  meet  this  "  flag," 
which  I  soon  saw  was  borne  by  Captain  Rin- 
gold. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?" 

"  Don't  let  your  women  come  into  our  camp 
again.  Jaycox  is  back,  and  he  and  Halliday 
have  got  the  upper  hand.     I'm  powerless." 

"  Will  your  men  let  the  women  go  if  I  give 
myself  up  ?" 

"No;  stay  with  them  to  the  last." 

"  One  word  more." 

"  There's  no  time.  I  have  stolen  away,  and 
if  I  am  missed  and  it's  known  where  I  have 
been,  I'll  be  a  dead  man." 


166  SWEET   REVENGE 

He  was  gone  before  the  last  word  was  spo- 
ken.    I  returned  to  the  fortress. 

"What  is  itr'  cried  Jack,  expectantl3\ 

"  He  has  lost  the  power  to  protect  3-011 ;  he 
advises  me  to  stay  with  you  to  the  last." 

"Will  your' 

"  Yes,"  I  replied,  with  a  sigh. 

"  Thank  God  !"  exclaimed  Helen. 

Another  nio-ht  of  horror  ;  a  risiiiij:  sun,  flood- 
ing  the  face  of  the  rocks  and  our  wan  faces 
with  a  ruddy  glow.  A  more  wretched  lot  of 
beings  could  not  be  found  among  castaways  at 
sea.  We  had  not  slept  during  the  night,  for 
whatever  of  rest  had  come  to  any  of  us  had 
been  rather  stupor  than  sleep.  Our  clieeks 
were  sunken ;  our  eyes,  deep  in  their  sockets, 
were  turned  towards  the  red  orb  of  day,  which 
to  our  fevered  imaginations  seemed  to  be  ad- 
vancing to  strike  the  final  blow. 

A  great  change  had  come  over  us  during 
the  night.  Jack  alternated  between  bursts 
of  passion  and  a  devil-may-care  spirit,  sprin- 
kled with  humorous  sallies  between  tears  and 
smiles,  which  served  to  lighten  momentarily 
the  gloom  for  the  others,  but  only  rendered 
me  more  wretched.     Buck  craved  food  more 


A    BUGLE-CALL  167 

than  all  the  rest,  and  after  a  fe\y  vain  efforts 
to  appear  unconcerned,  took  on  a  ghastly  look 
that  cut  me  to  the  heart.  Ginger  spent  a 
great  deal  of  his  time  in  prayer.  Helen  seemed 
calm,  yet  I  noticed  a  strange  look  in  her  eye. 
Up  to  this  terrible  morning  she  had  been  the 
mainstay  of  the  part3\  Under  the  strain  that 
smouldering  fire  which  burned  within  her 
flared  ominously.  Turning  to  me,  she  asked, 
harshly : 

"  Are  you  a  Confederate,  or  are  you  a — 
Yankee?" 

"  What  matters  it  now  ?" 

"  I  came  to  save  you,  understanding  you  to 
be  a  Confederate." 

"Would  you  abandon  me  now  if  3^ou  knew 
me  to  be  a  Union  man?" 

She  turned  away,  and  I  saw  that  she  was 
weeping.  I  put  my  arm  about  her  and  drew 
her  head  down  on  my  breast.  There  she  wept 
long  and  silently.  Whether  she  was  uncon- 
scious of  what  she  did,  or  whether  her  suffer- 
ings made  her  careless,  I  did  not  know,  but  as 
I  felt  her  heart  beatino^  as^ainst  mine  I  was 
conscious  of  the  birth  of  a  new  love. 

As  the  sun  rose  higher  it  beat  down  upon 
us  with  all  the  enervatins-  heat  of  an  unseason- 


168  SWEET    REVENGE 

able  day.  The  water  dripping  back  of  us  alone 
sustained  and  refreshed  us.  One  b}^  one  we 
would  go  to  the  cleft,  and,  standing  under  the 
cooling  drops,  receive  them  in  our  mouths. 
We  envied  the  birds  the  food  they  bore  to 
their  nests,  and  the  freedom  of  those  soaring 
far  above  in  the  limitless  ocean  of  air.  Why 
could  we  not  be  given  wings  to  fly  from  our 
rocky  prison?  The  wrecked  are  prone  to 
dwell  on  hallucinations  ;  so  to  us  came  sounds 
denoting  the  approach  of  rescuers.  One  would 
hear  the  tramp  of  armed  men  ;  another  would 
see  the  white  covers  of  a  wagon-train.  All 
day  we  were  tortured  by  these  fancies,  till  at 
last  I  ceased  to  pay  any  attention  to  them. 

"  I  hear  horse's  hoofs,"  said  Buck. 

"  Oh  no,  you  don't,  Buck,"  I  said,  laying  my 
hand  on  his  head. 

"  I  tell  yo'  I  do." 

^'  Listen,"  said  Helen. 

We  all  listened,  but  so  far  as  I  was  concerned 
there  w^as  no  unusual  sound. 

"  I  hear  them,  too,"  said  Jack. 

It  was  singular  that  these  two  should 
agree.  I  looked  anxiously  at  Helen.  My 
hearing  was  not  especially  acute ;  if  Helen 
had  heard,  I  might  have  thought  there  was 


A    BUGLE-CALL  169 

something  to  hear.  She  hstened  a  long  while, 
but  no  sound  came  to  her. 

"  It's  gone,"  said  Buck. 

"  So  it  is,"  said  Jack.  "  I  heard  it;  I  know 
I  did." 

I  turned  away.  It  was  plain  to  me  that 
they  had  been  tortured  by  another  hallucina- 
tion. Neither  Buck  nor  Jack  heard  anything 
more,  and  the  incident  was  soon  forgotten,  at 
least  by  Helen  and  by  me,  who  had  heard 
nothing.  AVe  all  relapsed  into  that  dreadful 
waitins: — waiting:  for  the  time  when  the  fear 
of  death  would  be  overcome  by  the  pangs  of 
starvation.  Helen  suddenly  looked  at  me,  that 
dangerous  light  which  I  had  seen  before  in 
her  eyes. 

"  Your  enemy  V  she  asked. 

"  What  enemy  ?" 

"  The  one  you  came  to  Alabama  to  kill." 

"  I  shall  never  kill  him  now." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  you  abandon  your 
revenge  ?"     Slie  spoke  contemptuously. 

"  With  death  staring  me,  staring  you  and 
the  others  in  the  face — you  who  have  wrecked 
3^ourselves  in  a  vain  attempt  to  save  me — my 
private  griefs  sink  to  nothingness." 

"  You  must  be  revenged."    She  spoke  as  if  it 


170  SWEET    REVENGE 

were  she  and  not  I  who  was  to  be  the  aven- 
ger. 

"  I  remember ;  you  were  to  help  me." 

"  I  will  help  you." 

"  There  is  no  need  ;  we  are  doomed." 

"  We  shall  live ;  and  you  will  meet  him." 

"  And  then  ?" 

"  You  will  kill  him." 

"  My  poor  girl,  think  no  more  of  that.  Let 
us  fix  our  minds  on  gentler  things ;  let  us  hope 
for  some  escape  from  this  dreadful  fate." 

She  sat  down  on  the  bare  rock,  I  beside  her. 
"We  both  looked  out  upon  the  setting  sun,  tint- 
ing the  mountains  with  ominous  blood-stains, 
like  those  I  had  seen  on  the  evening  I  reached 
the  guerrilla  band.  Jack  was  sitting  holding 
her  knees,  rocking  back  and  forth  ;  Buck  was 
lying  on  his  back  with  his  eyes  shut ;  Ginger 
had  finished  a  prayer  and  was  rising  from  his 
knees.  Suddenly  the  whole  command  started 
up  as  if  touched  by  a  current  of  vitality.  There 
rang  out  on  the  still  mountain  air  the  clear 
tones  of  a  bugle. 

There  was  no  hallucination  about  this  sound. 
Each  note  cut  the  air  with  scimitar-like  sharp- 
ness. To  our  ears,  whetted  as  they  were  for 
some  tidings   of   relief,  it  was   like   trumpet 


A    BCGLE-CALL  171 

tones  from  heaven.  It  echoed  and  re-echoed 
through  the  mountains,  each  echo  fainter  than 
the  last,  dying  softly  in  the  far  distance. 

Shading  my  eyes  Avith  my  hand,  peering 
down  towards  tlie  road,  I  saw  through  a  small 
opening  in  the  trees  liles  of  cavalry  passing  by 
fours.  They  were  too  far  for  me  to  distinguish 
whether  they  wore  the  blue  or  the  gray;  but 
it  made  no  difference;  either  side  would, be 
welcome.  Seizing  a  carbine,  I  pointed  it  at  the 
sky  and  fired. 

The  bugle  and  my  shot  produced  a  magical 
effect  on  the  guerrillas.  AVithout  waiting  to 
gather  anything  but  their  arms,  every  man  of 
them  darted  away  into  the  woods.  They  knew 
well  what  would  be  their  fate  could  we  open 
communication  with  the  cavalry. 

"  'Not  a  moment  is  to  be  lost,"  I  cried  to  my 
command;  "that  bugle -call  was  an  order  to 
halt.  We  must  catch  the  soldiers  before  they 
start  again." 

Gathering  the  guns  and  putting  half  a 
dozen  cartridges  that  remained  in  my  pocket, 
we  all  left  the  fort  that  had  served  us  so 
well  and  started  down  the  declivity.  With- 
out the  inspiration  of  those  bugle  notes  we 
could  scarcely  have  crawled  away.     Now  we 


173  SWEET    EEVENGE 

not  only  walked,  but  walked  rapidly.  Once 
past  the  flanking  rocks,  we  turned  to  the  left, 
skirted  the  base  of  the  hill,  and  made  straiorht 
for  the  road.  I  led,  and  so  great  was  my 
anxiety  to  get  the  otliers  forward  that  I  Avas 
constantly  getting  ahead  of  them.  I  saw  that 
Buck  w^as  lagging,  and  1  was  starting  back  to 
help  him  when  Helen  stooped,  took  him  up  in 
her  arms,  and  threw  him  over  her  shoulder. 
He  kicked  so  vigorously  at  this  indignity  that 
Helen  put  him  down,  and,  his  fury  lending  him 
strength,  he  at  once  took  the  lead  beside  me. 
"We  hurried  on,  now"  and  again  looking  back  to 
make  sure  that  we  were  not  followed,  climbing 
over  rocks,  through  ravines,  around  projecting 
points,  I  directing  the  course  towards  the  spot 
Avhere  I  had  seen  the  passing  troopers.  We 
had  traversed  half  the  distance  when  there 
came  another  bugle -call.  It  Avas  the  order 
"  Forward !" 

I  could  not  repress  an  exclamation  of  chagrin. 
I  knew  the  guerrillas  heard  all  we  heard,  and 
this  last  bugle  order  would  probably  arrest 
their  flight  and  bring  them  back  after  us. 
"  Come  !"  I  cried,  ''  we  are  still  in  peril." 
I  dashed  on  for  a  short  distance,  then  turned 
and   cast  a   Hance   behind  me.     Helen  was 


A    BUGLE-CALL  173 

marching  firmh^;  Jack  was  staggering.  As  I 
looked  she  pitched  forward  and  fell.  Before  I 
could  reach  her  Ginger  had  picked  her  up,  and, 
gathering  her  limp  bod\"  in  his  arms,  her  head 
resting  on  his  shoulder,  carried  her  on.  The 
burden,  so  precious  to  the  faithful  old  slave, 
seemed  to  give  him  fresh  courage,  and  he 
pushed  on,  though  with  tottering  steps. 

"  I'll  relieve  you  presently,  Ginger,"  I  said, 
"  Hold  out  as  long  as  you  can." 

We  came  to  a  depression,  in  the  centre  of 
which  ran  a  mountain  stream  ;  the  descent  and 
the  ascent  on  the  opposite  side  were  both  rocky, 
and  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  low  tim- 
ber, and  difficult  to  pass.  I  glanced  hastily  to 
the  ri":ht  and  to  the  left,  but.  seeing  no  better 
passage,  plunged  down  the  declivity.  Buck 
was  now  sticking  to  me  like  a  leech,  Helen 
was  just  behind,  while  a  hundred  yards  back 
Ginger  staggered  along  with  Jack.  I  waited 
a  moment  for  him  to  come  up,  and  then  led 
the  way  into  the  ravine,  intending  to  take  his 
burden  from  him  when  we  had  passed  the 
stream.  Once  at  the  creek,  we  waded  across. 
In  the  middle  Ginger  stumbled  and  dumped 
his  burden  into  the  water. 

The  effect  on  Jack  was  marvellous.     The 


174  SWEET    REVENGE 

cold  water  brought  a  reaction  which,  if  not 
pleasing,  was  at  least  beneficial.  She  flew 
into  a  towering  passion  at  Ginger  for  dropping 
her,  and  when  I  attempted  to  take  her  up 
gave  me  a  box  on  the  ear  that  made  it  tingle. 
Dripping,  she  dashed  up  the  rise  in  the  ground, 
storming  as  she  went,  and  gained  the  summit 
before  the  rest. 

Pushing  through  a  level  wooded  space,  we 
soon  came  to  the  road.  A  bugle  ahead  sound- 
ed the  order  to  trot.  Scarcely  had  its  echoes 
died  away  Avhen,  from  the  direction  of  the 
outlaws'  deserted  camp  came  a  shrill  whistle. 

"  The  guerrillas !"  I  cried.  "  It  is  now  a 
race  between  life  and  death." 


XVII 
FLIGHT 

I  WAS  at  a  loss  to  know  what  had  brouHit 
a  bod}^  of  cavalry  up  into  the  Cumberland 
mountains.  I  learned  afterwards  that  they 
had  come  from  Shelbyville  and  were  on  their 
way  to  attack  Bridgeport,  where  the  Memphis 
and  Charleston  railroad  crossed  the  Tennessee, 
with  a  view  to  burning  the  bridge.  At  Tracy 
City  they  had  heard  of  a  Confederate  force 
moving  on  their  flank  to  cut  them  off,  and  re- 
traced their  steps.  Buck  and  Jaqueline  had  real- 
1}^  heard  them  going  southward  early  in  the 
afternoon.  The  bugle -calls  we  all  heard  so 
distinctly  were  sounded  on  their  way  back. 

"  Where  did  you  leave  your  horses  ?"  I  asked, 
quickly,  of  Helen  as  we  hurried  on. 

"  In  a  clump  of  trees  near  the  road.  There 
it  is  now."     She  pointed  to  a  thicket. 

Great  was  my  anxiety  as  I  ran  to  the  place 
designated,  to  know  if  the  horses  were  still 


176  SWEET   KEVENGE 

there.  I  was  doomed  to  disappointment ; 
they  were  gone.  There  was  no  time  for  re- 
pining over  the  loss.  ■  I  most  think  out  the 
problem  of  our  immediate  action,  and  that  in- 
stantly. Two  courses  were  open  to  us.  We 
might  follow  the  cavalry  northward,  or  we 
could  strike  out  towards  the  south.  Each  plan 
had  its  advantages.  If  we  followed  the  cav- 
alry we  might  succeed  in  coming  up  with 
them,  in  which  event  we  should  be  safe ;  but 
as  they  were  mounted  and  we  were  not,  there 
was  little  hope  of  our  overtaking  them.  Be- 
sides, the  guerrillas  would  expect  us  to  follow 
that  course.  If  we  pushed  south  we  must 
abandon  all  hope  of  falling  in  with  the  troop- 
ers, but  would  doubtless  mislead  the  guerrillas 
and  gain  considerable  time.  We  would  also 
be  moving  towards  the  homes  of  the  others  of 
the  party.     I  struck  out  southward. 

"What  are  yo'  going  that  way  fo'?"  cried 
Jack. 

'•  It's  the  way  to  go." 

"  Well,  go  ahead ;  I'm  going  after  the  sol- 
diers." 

She  turned  and  started  northward.  I  seized 
her,  and,  taking  her  in  my  arms,  carried  her 
along  with  the  rest,  she  raining  a  shower  of 


FLIGHT  177 

blows  from  her  little  list  upon  m}'  head.  "We 
pressed  on  without  a  word,  till  Jack,  either 
tired  of  the  situation,  or  becoming  sensible 
of  the  absurdity  of  her  action,  promised  that 
if  I  would  put  her  down  she  would  go  with 
us  peaceabh^  I  set  her  on  the  ground  in  a 
very  disgruntled  condition. 

"I  wisii  Captain  Kingold  were  here,"  she 
muttered,  angrily ;  "  he'd  make  you  pay  fo' 
that." 

The  road  was  so  winding  that  I  did  not  fear 
au}'^  one  behind  could  see  us  from  a  distance, 
while,  should  we  leave  it,  our  progress  would 
be  very  slow.  I  chose  to  take  the  risk  of  be- 
ing seen,  and  put  as  great  a  distance  as  possible 
between  us  and  the  outlaws,  while  they  sup- 
posed they  were  on  our  track  in  the  direction 
of  the  cavalry ;  for  I  felt  sure  they  would  ex- 
pect us  to  take  that  course.  We  had  not  gone 
far  before  we  met  a  lean  countr3'man  on  horse- 
back. In  a  few  words  I  told  him  of  our  situa- 
tion, and  begged  him  if  he  met  the  guerrillas 
to  mislead  them.  When  he  learned  of  our 
starving  condition  he  pulled  a  small  black  bot- 
tle containing  whiskey  out  of  his  saddle-bag. 
I  forced  every  member  of  the  party  to  drink, 
and,  tossing  the  empty  bottle  at  the  country- 


178  SWEET    KEVENGE 

man,  hurried  on.  I  knew  that  the  sthnulant 
would  avail  us  but  a  little  while,  then  would 
only  make  matters  worse.  Helen  walked  on, 
showing  no  effect  whatever  from  the  potation, 
Jack  danced  along  as  if  she  were  at  a  picnic 
party,  while  Buck  suddenly  became  brave  as 
a  lion. 

"Don't  yo'  think,  Mr.  Brandystone,"  he 
said,  with  difficulty  getting  breath  enough  to 
articulate  while  walking  so  fast,  "  we'd  better 
stop  'n'  fight  'em  ?" 

"I  think  you'd  better  stop  talking  and  save 
your  breath  for  walking." 

"  Reckon  we  better  stop,"  said  Ginger,  "  'n' 
thank  de  Lawd  fo'  letten  us  out  o'  dat  trap,  'n' 
pray  fo'  dem  g'rillas  't  git  los'  in  de  wilder- 
ness." 

"We  can  do  that  while  we're  walking,"  said 
Helen,  "  and  not  lose  any  time." 

"  'Spec'  de  pra'rs  on  de  knees  is  mo'  effica- 
cerous,"  replied  Ginger,  "  but  mebbe  we  don' 
need  'em  like  we  did  a  spell  ago." 

Still  there  was  no  sound  in  our  rear.  Helen 
asked  if  I  did  not  think  that  keeping  the  road 
was  pretty  risky.  I  told  her  tliat  I  would 
soon  give  the  word  to  take  to  the  woods. 
Coming  to  a  point  where  there  was  a  turn, 


FLIGHT  179 

leaving  a  straight  piece  of  road  back  of  us,  I 
told  the  rest  to  go  on  while  I  waited  and 
watched.  I  stood  castino-  o-lances  back  till  inv 
army  reached  another  turn  in  advance,  then, 
pressing  forward,  caught  up  with  them.  In 
this  Avay  I  kept  them  in  the  road  and  main- 
tained a  rear  watch  at  the  same  time  for 
nearly  half  an  hour.  Then  the  strength  of 
the  party,  which  had  thus  far  been  supplied 
by  excitement,  suddenly  began  to  droop,  and 
I,  feeling  that  I  had  used  all  the  energy 
there  was  in  them,  led  the  way  off  the  road 
into  the  heart  of  the  forest.  AVe  had  scarcely 
got  into  the  woods  when  we  heard  a  clatter- 
ing of  hoofs  on  the  road.  "Whether  they  were 
made  by  the  guerrillas'  horses  or  not  I  did  not 
know,  but  I  felt  very  sure  they  were.  AVe 
waited  till  they  were  out  of  hearing;  then 
every  one  sank  down  on  the  ground. 

"Now,  Gringer,"  I  said,  "it  is  a  good  time 
to  giv^e  thanks." 

Getting  on  his  knees.  Ginger  poured  out  the 
thanks  of  the  party  in  words  that  came  as 
smoothly  and  plentifully  as  the  waters  of  a 
running  stream.  I,  being  of  that  persuasion 
which  has  for  its  motto,  "  Trust  in  God,  but 
keep  your  powder  dry,'-  and  seeing  that  Gin- 


180  SWEET    KEVENGE 

ger  was  disposed  to  prolong  his  thanksgiving 
indefinitely,  got  up  and  started  to  find  a  con- 
venient pLace  to  hide.  I  soon  struck  a  little 
pocket,  formed  by  the  coming  together  of 
several  declivities,  and  surrounded  by  thickets. 
A  little  runnel  passed  through  it,  and,  stooping 
down,  I  quenched  a  thirst  that  was  burning 
me.  Returning  to  the  party,  I  led  them  to 
the  retreat  I  had  found  for  tliem,  then  left 
them  to  go  in  search  of  provisions. 

It  was  now  quite  dark.  I  walked  half  a 
mile,  when  I  saw  the  Hghts  of  Tracy  City.  Go- 
ing to  the  town  and  selecting  a  house  standing 
apart  from  the  rest,  I  marched  boldly  up  to  it 
and  knocked  at  the  door.  It  was  opened  by  a 
girl,  the  only  occupant  of  the  place,  a  wild-eyed 
creature  in  dingy  calico,  unshod,  her  square-cut 
locks  tucked  behind  her  ears.  She  appeared 
to  be  in  a  chronic  state  of  fright,  and  evident- 
ly thought  me  one  of  those  men  who  were  go- 
ing about  taking  advantage  of  the  absence  of 
restraint  induced  by  war  to  help  themselves 
to  whatever  they  wanted.  I  asked  her  for  some 
food  and  a  few  cooking  utensils,  and  when  I 
paid  her  for  them  she  Avas  struck  dumb  with 
amazement.  I  returned  to  camp  with  provi- 
sions, matches,  a  skillet,  and  a  coffee-pot. 


FLIGHT  181 

Gino;er  and  Buck  had  frathered  a  little  wood 
for  the  fire.  At  the  inner  extremity  of  the 
pocket  we  occupied  was  a  low  ledge  of  over- 
hanging rock.  It  projected  but  a  few  feet, 
and  was  about  the  height  of  little  Buck  from 
the  ground.  I  hesitated  for  some  time  wheth- 
er  it  would  not  be  dangerous  to  light  a  fire 
and  thus  guide  our  enemies  to  where  we  were, 
but  at  last  concluded  to  place  the  wood  under 
the  ledge  and  cover  the  front  with  boughs. 
Driving  three  stakes  into  the  ground,  I  placed 
the  wood  under  them  and  lighted  it.  Then 
filling  my  coffee-pot  with  water  from  the 
stream,  and  putting  in  my  coifee,  a  very  pleas- 
ant odor  soon  greeted  our  nostrils. 

But  all  were  too  famished  to  Avait  for  a 
cooked  supper.  Seizing  upon  some  corn-pone 
I  had  brought,  the  others  devoured  it  eagerly, 
I  restraining  my  appetite  long  enough  to  put 
some  bacon  into  the  skillet.  One  article  of 
food  after  another  was  devoured  as  it  was  got 
ready,  and  our  coffee  without  milk  came  in  at 
the  end  like  the  last  course  at  a  dinner. 

As  soon  as  we  had  finished  our  supper  we 
put  out  the  fire,  lay  boughs  where  it  had  been, 
and  covered  them  with  dry  leaves,  making  a 
bed  for  the  two  girls  and  Buck.     Ginger  was 


183  SWEET    REVENGE 

to  bivouac  wherever  he  liked,  while  I  proposed 
to  watch.  Leaving  the  others  to  get  to  bed, 
I  took  a  carbine  and  walked  towards  the  road. 

There  was  a  light  step  behind  me,  and,  turn- 
ing, I  saw  Helen  coming. 

"  Go  back,"  I  said,  "  and  take  your  rest. 
You  need  all  you  can  get." 

"I  wish  to  take  half  your  watch." 

"  You  shall  do  no  such  thing." 

"  I  am  strong ;  the  supper  has  revived  me." 

"  Helen,"  I  said,  quietly,  at  the  same  time 
taking  her  hand,  "  I  am  in  command  ;  as  a  good 
soldier  it  is  your  duty  to  obey." 

I  led  her  back  to  the  camp.  As  we  passed, 
hand  in  hand,  over  the  dead  leaves  and  crack- 
ling twigs,  ray  heart  was  filled,  even  in  our 
peril,  with  a  supreme  happiness,  yet  a  happiness 
marred  by  the  gulf  between  us.  I  longed  to 
tell  her  that  I  loved  her — for  her  bravery,  her 
strength  of  character,  her  devotion,  for  her- 
self— but  I  could  not  without  confessing  myself 
an  enemy  to  all  she  held  dear. 

When  we  reached  the  camp  we  stood  face 
to  face  in  the  moonlight.  It  seemed  as  impos- 
sible to  restrain  the  words  I  would  utter  as  it 
was  impossible  to  utter  them.  I  dropped  her 
hand  and  walked  away  to  resume  my  watch. 


FLIGHT  183 

From  an  eminence  I  turned  and  looked  back. 
She  was  still  standing  in  the  moonlight.  I 
knew  that  she  was  disapjDointed  that  I  had 
withheld  an  expression  of  my  love.  What 
could  I  do?  Turning  again, I  passed  in  among 
the  trees. 

All  through  that  long  night  I  walked  with  a 
soft  tread,  hearkening  to  the  slightest  sound, 
straining  my  ears  whenever  a  breeze  rustled 
the  branches  of  tlie  trees,  or  starting  when  I 
heard  some  fur-coated  creature  prowling  in 
search  of  food.  Yet  during  my  watch  one 
picture  was  ever  present  before  me.  All  night 
I  saw  Helen  standing  in  the  moonlight,  all 
night  I  brooded  over  the  barrier  that  separated 
us.  At  dawn  I  felt  that  I  must  get  some  rest, 
or  I  would  not  be  able  to  lead  the  party  farther. 
Going  to  the  little  camp  and  awakening  Ginger, 
I  led  him  out  to  where  I  had  been  watching-, 
and  told  him  to  keep  moving  back  and  forth  a 
short  distance  from  the  road,  and  in  case  of 
danger  raise  the  alarm.  Then,  returning  to 
camp,  I  threw  myself  on  the  ground  and  fell 
asleep. 


XVIII 
RETAKEN 

I  WAS  awakened  by  the  kick  of  a  heavy 
boot,  and,  opening  my  eyes,  looked  into  the 
face  of  Tom  Jaycox.  The  expression  of  fiend- 
isli  joy  that  shone  through  anxious  caution 
froze  the  very  marrow  of  my  bones.  The 
muzzle  of  his  revolver  was  within  a  few  inches 
of  my  forehead,  and  his  look  told  me  that  a 
word  of  alarm  or  a  motion  for  self-defence 
would  be  a  signal  for  a  bullet  to  go  crashing 
through  my  brain. 

"  Git  up,"  he  whispered. 

I  stood  on  my  feet. 

"  Move  on." 

It  was  the  dawn  of  a  beautiful  spring  morn- 
ing. The  perfume  of  young  verdure,  the  twit- 
ter of  birds,  an  occasional  cock-crow  in  the 
distance,  gave  me  the  thought  that  it  is  de- 
lightful to  live.  But  they  threw  over  me  as 
well  a  contrasting  gloom,  for  it  seemed  certain 


BETAKEN  185 

that  this  fair  scene  was  the  last  of  those  pict- 
ures drawn  by  the  divinely  artistic  hand  of 
the  Creator  that  I  should  ever  look  upon.  My 
companions  were  all  wrapt  in  a  heavy  slumber, 
induced  by  a  long  period  of  unrest.  I  bade  a 
mute  farewell  to  each  as  I  passed,  breathing 
a  blessing  on  little  Buck,  whose  arms  were 
clasped  about  his  sister,  his  young  face  and 
figure  relaxed  ;  on  Jaqueline,  her  white  face 
resting  in  a  profusion  of  tumbled  black  hair; 
on  Helen,  her  features  strong  even  in  sleep. 
There  was  a  line  between  the  lids  of  Helen's 
eyes ;  but  I  thought  little  of  that,  for  it  is  not 
unusual  for  people  to  show  this  line  when 
sleeping.  I  thanked  God  that  my  presence 
would  no  longer  be  a  menace  to  these  dear 
ones  who  had  suffered  so  much  for  me. 

Jaycox  marched  me  out  of  the  camp  tow- 
ards the  road,  across  it,  and  into  a  w^ood  on  the 
other  side,  where  his  horse  was  picketed  to  a 
tree.  He  was  constantly  looking  about  and 
listening,  and  I  inferred  this  was  for  others  of 
the  gang,  who  had  doubtless  separated  in  order 
to  cover  more  ground  in  their  search  for  us. 
Finally  the  brute  stood  still,  and,  pointing  his 
revolver  straight  at  me,  fired  two  shots  in  rapid 
succession,  the  bullets  singing  close  to  my  ears. 


186  SWEET    REVENGE 

He  did  not  intend  to  kill  me,  though  he  was 
indifferent  whether  he  did  or  not ;  he  wished 
to  serve  a  double  purpose  of  signalling  the 
band  and  intimidating  me.  Two  similar  shots 
were  fired  far  to  the  north,  and  then  m^^  cap- 
tor started  off  with  me  in  that  direction. 

Entering  the  road  we  proceeded,  Jaycox, 
some  ten  yards  behind  me,  amusing  himself 
by  firing  occasional  shots  at  me,  evidently  try- 
ing to  see  how  near  he  could  come  to  me  with- 
out hitting  me.  One  of  his  bullets  grazed  my 
ear,  and  I  felt  blood  trickling  on  my  collar, 
good  evidence  that  he  had  missed  his  imagi- 
nary mark  on  the  wrong  side.  He  was  doubt- 
less firing  for  his  double  purpose  of  letting  his 
companions  know  of  his  whereabouts  and  of 
torturing  me.  His  signals  and  those  of  my 
other  enemies  were  drawing  nearer  and  nearer 
too:ether.  I  did  not  doubt  tliat  the  o-uerrillas 
would  prevent  any  further  opportunity  for 
escape  by  murdering  me  at  once,  though  they 
might  delay  long  enough  to  force  me  to  sign  for 
a  ransom  which  would  have  no  effect  in  saving: 
me.  I  lost  all  care  whether  Ja3'cox  hit  me,  or 
whether  I  was  spared  for  a  more  horrible 
death  by  the  gang.  At  last  I  was  face  to  face 
with  the  inevitable. 


RETAKEN  187 

I  was  trudging  on  mechanically^  my  eyes  bent 
on  the  ground,  Jaycox  close  behind  swearing 
and  shooting  at  me,  when  snddenlv  a  shot  ransr 
out  from  behind  us  both.  I  turned  and  saw 
Jaycox  tumble  from  the  saddle.  Running  to 
where  he  lay  I  bent  over  him,  and  knew  at 
once  that  I  looked  into  the  face  of  a  dying 
man.  He  gave  me  one  malignant  look,  a  shiv- 
er passed  over  him,  and  his  eyes  were  set  in 
death. 

I  looked  up,  and  saw  Helen  standing  in  the 
road  a  short  distance  back  with  a  carbine  in 
her  hands.  There  was  something  in  the  ex- 
pression of  her  face,  holding  as  she  did  the 
weapon,  a  light  smoke  curling  from  its  muzzle, 
that  brought  vividly  before  me  my  enemy  with 
his  smoking  pistol  on  the  night  of  the  massacre. 
A  signal  shot  came  from  around  the  trees  so 
near  that  we  knew  the  rest  of  the  band  would 
soon  be  upon  us.  Quick  as  thought  I  sprang 
into  the  saddle  left  vacant  by  Jaycox,  and 
spurred  towards  Helen,  she  darting  into  the 
wood,  I  following,  and,  after  i^enetrating  far 
enough,  both  hiding  behind  a  rock  covered 
with  brush. 

A  horseman  came  dashing  down  the  road, 
pulled  up  beside  Jaycox's  body,  looked  around 


188  SWEET    REVENGE 

anxiously  as  though  fearing  an  ambush,  then 
hurried  back  wlience  he  carae. 

With  one  impulse  Helen  and  I  sprang  into 
each  other's  arras.  Oh,  tlie  rapture  of  that 
embrace !  I  essayed  to  speak  to  her,  to  utter 
even  a  word,  an  exclamation  expressive  of 
what  I  felt.  I  could  only  draw  her  cheek 
down  against  mine  and  mutely  hold  it  there. 
Then  I  showered  kisses  on  her  lips,  her  cheeks, 
her  forehead,  her  eyes.  For  the  moment  I 
forgot  all  but  the  reverence,  the  gratitude, 
the  burning  passion,  tliat  thrilled  me — a  pas- 
sion such  as  comes  but  once,  if  ever,  in  a  life- 
time. 

Suddenly  there  came  to  Helen  a  remem- 
brance of  our  danger. 

"  Mount !  quick !  All  depends  on  })utting 
space  between  you  and  those  who  will  kill  you 
the  moment  they  get  their  hands  on  you 
again !" 

"  And  leave  you  ?     ISTot  I." 

"  Oh,  my  God !  are  you  going  to  act  that 
way  again  ?" 

"  You  have  killed  Jaj'cox  and  released  mo  a 
second  time.  Do  you  suppose  they  will  over- 
look that  V' 

She  became  frantic  at  my  opposition. 


RETAKEN  189 

"  You  fool !  you  ingrate !  to  throw  away 
your  life  when  I  have  twice  saved  it." 

"  We  will  go  together.  Here,  put  your  foot 
in  my  hand.  Once  in  the  saddle  you  can  ride 
away,  while  I  can  go  as  fast  on  foot  as  j^ou." 

"  Hark !" 

There  were  sounds  of  horses'  hoofs  com- 
ing leisurely  from  the  south,  and  in  another 
moment  a  mounted  man  in  Confederate  uni- 
form emerged  from  behind  the  trees,  loitering 
along,  the  picture  of  indolence. 

"Look!"  said  Helen,  her  eyes  fixed  eagerly 
on  the  advancing  figure.     "  It's — " 

"Captain  Beaumont,  as  I  live!" 

.Never  for  a  moment  doubting  that  he  was 
followed  by  his  troopers,  and  infinitely  pre- 
ferrino^  to  fall  into  his  hands  rather  than  into 
the  guerrillas',  1  hailed  him.  He  reined  in, 
stared  at  us,  recognized  us,  and,  after  sitting 
for  a  moment  in  mute  astonishment,  rode  tow- 
ards us. 

"  What  in  the  name  of — " 

"  Your  men  —  where  are  they  ?"  gasped 
Helen. 

"  I  have  no  men,  I  sent  them  back  yester- 
day.    We  have  hunted  you  fo' — " 

"  Tiien  dismount,  captain,"  I  said-,  "  and  be 


190  SWEET   REVENGE 

quick.  There  are  guerrillas  up  there.  They 
may  murder  you  as  well  as  us." 

"  My  dear  man,"  he  said,  dismounting  lei- 
surely, "  yo'  are  always  in  a  hurry.  By-the-bye, 
where  is  tha^fascinating  little  creature — " 

"  Oh,  captain,"  cried  Helen,  "a  life — both 
our  lives  are  at  stake  !" 

"What  can  I  do  fo'  yo'?"  asked  the  captain, 
at  last  impressed  with  our  excited  appearance. 

By  this  time  the  guerrillas  had  come  up  to 
Jaycox's  body,  and  stood  alternately  looking 
at  it  and  casting  glances  into  the  wood  on 
either  side  of  the  road.  They  raised  him,  felt 
of  his  heart,  knew  that  he  was  dead,  and 
dropped  him. 

"  It's  Jaycox,"  I  whispered  to  the  captain. 
"  He  kidnapped  me  to  -  day  a  second  time. 
This  brave  girl  followed  and  shot  him.  In  a 
few  minutes  they  will  scour  the  wood.  We 
have  but  one  horse.  It  will  never  carry  us 
both  swiftly  enough  for  escape." 

"  I  relinquish  my  horse  with  pleasure,  of 
co'se.     May  I  assist — " 

Helen's  foot  was  in  my  hand  and  she  in  the 
saddle  before  he  could  finish ;  then  I  sprang 
upon  the  other  horse. 

"  Would  you  oblige  me,''  the  captain  called 


RETAKEN  191 

after  us,  as  we  hurried  away,  "  b}^  informing 
me  where  I  can  find  that  httle  beauty — " 

"Over  there  —  in  a  pocket  between  knolls 
— half  a  mile  — •  tell  them  we'll  join  them 
later." 

I  can  see  him  now,  with  his  hand  on  his 
heart,  bowing  profoundly,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing a  shudder  at  remembering  the  danger  we 
were  in,  cannot  repress  a  smile  at  the  comical 
situation  of  this  man  who  a  few  days  before 
had  ordered  me  out  to  be  shot,  then  had  of- 
fered to  lend  me  money,  and  now,  giving  me 
his  horse  to  save  my  life,  was  about  to  start 
off  hunting  for  Jaqueline  in  the  Cumberland 
mountains. 

Helen  and  I,  riding  side  by  side,  dashed 
through  brush,  between  trees,  over  rocks,  run- 
nels, rotting  trunks  of  trees,  our  only  thought 
to  put  space  between  us  and  our  enemies.  She 
was  riding  on  a  man's  saddle,  sidewise,  lucki- 
ly supported  b}^  a  high  pommel  and  holster, 
keeping  her  balance  as  if  bred  to  the  "  ring." 
I  reached  out  m}^  hand ;  she  gave  me  hers 
to  press,  and  a  lover's  look,  intensified  by  our 
danger,  shot  between  us.  It  was  only  for  an 
instant,  for  so  rough  was  the  ground,  so  nu- 
merous the  obstructions,  that  we  were  oblit!:ed 


193  SWEET    REVENGE 

to  keep  oar  eyes  constantly  fixed  ahead.  There 
had  been  exciting  moments  since  my  first  ab- 
duction, but  nothing  like  the  wild  exhilaration 
that  thrilled  me  now.  I  forgot  tlie  barrier 
that  was  still  between  us,  thinking  only  that 
if  this  one  ride  were  successful  years  of  hap- 
piness might  be  in  store  for  us. 

"Wondering  if  we  were  followed,  I  drew  rein 
and  listened.  We  could  distinctly  hear  the 
brush  breaking  in  our  rear.  Again  we  pushed 
forward. 

It  occurred  to  me  that  we  were  <]:oinf]:  direct- 
ly  from  our  camp,  and  that  the  greater  chance 
for  safety,  both  immediate  and  ultimate,  would 
be  in  hiding,  with  a  view  to  inducing  the 
guerrillas  to  pass  us,  thus  affording  an  oppor- 
tunity to  return  and  join  forces  with  our 
friends.  Approaching  a  clump  of  wood  skirted 
by  open  ground,  a  plan  flashed  through  my 
brain  to  utilize  both  in  order  to  elude  our  pur- 
suers. 

"  Your  bonnet!"  I  cried  to  Helen. 

She  tossed  it  to  me. 

"  Now  ride  straight  for  that  thicket." 

Spurring  my  horse  to  the  utmost,  I  made  a 
circuit,  dropping  the  bonnet,  and,  a  trifle  far- 
ther on,  my  hat.     He.len  entered   the  wood, 


KETAKEN  193 

and  I,  wheeling,  dashed  in  on  the  farther  side 
and  rejoined  her.  Jerking  off  my  coat,  I 
wrapped  it  about  my  horse's  ears  and  eyes  to 
prevent  his  neighing  to  those  approaching, 
and  Helen,  divining  my  intention,  did  the 
same  to  her  own  mount  with  her  jacket.  Then 
we  stood  waiting,  not  a  sound  escaping  from 
either  us  or  our  horses,  even  their  panting 
deadened  b}'^  the  covering.  It  was  either  life 
or  death,  with  the  chances  in  favor  of  death, 
We  stood,  hand  in  hand,  looking  straight  into 
each  other's  eyes.  In  that  moment  of  supreme 
suspense  it  was  as  if  but  one  being  waited  for 
the  result. 

An  exclamation :  they  have  seen  the  bon- 
net !  A  shout :  they  have  come  upon  the  hat ! 
They  clatter  on.  Wait.  A  man  in  the  rear  is 
coming.  He  too  passes,  his  horse's  hoof-beats 
dying  in  the  distance. 

Leaving  the  thicket,  we  made  straight  for 
the  camp,  and  in  a  few  minutes  dashed  in  u^Jon 
our  companions. 


XIX 
BUCK'S   INDISCRETION 

Captain  Beaumont  had  arrived  but  a  few 
minutes  before  us,  and  when  we  appeared  was 
attempting  to  reassure  Jack,  who  had  com- 
pletel}'^  collapsed  at  finding  that  both  Helen 
and  I  had  disappeared.  He  went  to  Helen 
and  politely  offered  to  assist  her  to  alight. 

"  We  must  move  out  of  this  at  once,"  I  said. 
"  All  depends  upon  our  getting  down  the 
mountain  and  into  some  town,  where  these 
villains  will  not  dare  follow  iis.  All  stay  here 
■while  I  reconnoitre." 

I  had  not  dismounted,  and  spurred  my  horse 
a  few  hundred  yards  westward,  where  I  paused 
on  the  verge  of  the  plateau.  The  sun  Avas 
rising  at  my  back,  and  was  pouring  a  flood  of 
light  on  the  lowlands  a  thousand  feet  below, 
1  swept  my  eye  over  the  rolling  fields  and 
woodland  dotted  with  towns,  villages,  ham- 
lets, and  many  a  fair  plantation  with  its  manor- 
house  surrounded  by  the  huts   of  the  field- 


BUCK  S    INDISCRETION  195 

hands.  Far  in  the  distance  was  a  snakelike 
line  in  the  road,  moving  forward,  it  seemed,  as 
a  reptile  crawls — the  cavalry  that  we  had  so 
nearly  caught  the  day  before,  now  on  their 
way  back  to  join  the  main  force.  I  longed  for 
a  speaking-trumpet  sonorous  enough  to  reach 
them,  but  there  was  no  hope  for  us  now  in 
them,  and  I  brushed  away  disappointment  and 
made  a  survey  of  the  ground  directly  before 
me.  Nothing  but  steep  incline,  so  thickly 
wooded  that  the  character  of  the  ground  was 
completely  hidden.  On  either  hand  Avas  a 
mountain  spur,  between  Avhich  ran  a  creek.  I 
hesitated  between  taking  one  of  these  spurs 
and  following  the  bed  of  the  creek.  On  the 
spurs  we  might  be  seen ;  by  the  creek  we  would 
be  concealed  under  the  trees.  I  decided  in 
favor  of  the  latter.  Eeturning  to  camp  I  in- 
formed the  party  of  my  decision. 

"Will  you  join  us,  Captain  Beaumont?"! 
asked. 

"  I've  been  hunting  fo'  yo'  all  fo'  days,"  re- 
plied the  captain,  looking  at  Jack.  "  Now  I've 
found  yo'  I'm  not  likely  to  part  with  yo'l 
Together  we  can  whip  the  guerrillas." 

"  Not  a  dozen  of  them.  Besides,  we've  had 
enough  of  that." 


196  SWEET    REVENGE 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  the  horses  ?" 
asked  Helen. 

"  Mount  the  ladies,"  suggested  the  captain. 

"Thank  yo',''  observed  Jack,  "I  don't  care 
to  ride  on  a  horse  with  his  nose  pointing  to 
China  and  his  tail  at  the  stars." 

"  No  one  could  ride  a  horse  over  such  a 
route,"  said  I.     "  I'll  take  care  of  the  stock." 

I  tethered  them  in  the  little  poclcet  we  were 
leaving,  knowing  that  they  were  less  likely  to 
betray  our  whereabouts  to  our  enemies  there 
than  if  I  turned  them  loose. 

"  They'll  starve,"  Jack  remonstrated. 

"I  can't  help  it." 

"They  shall  not!" 

"Come,  we  have  no  time  to  lose." 

But  Jack  set  about  collecting  Avhat  little 
grass  was  to  be  had  and  piling  it  before  them. 
The  captain,  seeing  her  determination,  was 
soon  on  his  knees  gathering  grass  and  throw- 
ing it  in  her  apron, 

"  I  hope  the  delay  will  not  cost  us  our  lives," 
I  grumbled.  "  Now,  Ginger,  I  Avant  you  to  go 
off  to  the  right  just  as  far  as  you  can,  and  still 
keep  me  in  sight.  Buck,  you  go  to  the  left  and 
do  the  same,  but  keep  close,  for  it  won't  do  for 
us  to  call  to  each  other." 


buck's  indiscretion  197 

"  Jack  can  make  all  sorts  o'  noises— cats,  'n' 
owls,  'n'  birds — so  yo'  can't  tell  'em,"  Buck  vol- 
unteered. 

"  Good !  "We  may  have  occasion  to  use  her. 
You  girls  keep  behind  about  the  same  distance 
as  oar  flankers.  When  we  get  to  the  creek 
Ginger  is  to  work  down  it  on  the  right  bank, 
Buck  on  the  left,  while  I  keep  as  near  the 
creek  as  possible.  Captain  Beaumont,  will  you 
act  as  rear-guard  ?" 

"  With  pleasure,  sir." 

'*  He'll  go  to  sleep,"  remarked  Jack,  "  and 
be  left  behind." 

"Not  with  you  in  front,"  said  the  captain, 
looking  at  her  reproachfully. 

I  gave  the  order  to  move.  Making  as  little 
noise  as  possible,  keeping  each  other  in  sight, 
except  occasionally  when  the  trees  and  under- 
brush were  too  thick,  we  proceeded  to  the 
brow  of  the  plateau.  Descending,  we  soon 
struck  the  creek,  and  under  cover  of  the  trees 
proceeded  downward  in  open  order,  walking 
rapidly,  keeping  a  sharp  lookout  ahead  and  on 
the  flanks.  "We  had  not  gone  far  before  an 
owl  hooted  behind  me,  and  so  natural  was  the 
cry  that,  had  I  not  been  expecting  it,  I  should 
never  have  suspected  it  to  have  come  from  the 


198  SWEET    REVENGE 

throat  of  Jaqueline.  Turning,  I  saw  both  girls 
pointing  upward.  On  the  very  edge  of  the 
declivity,  and  not  far  from  w^hei-e  Ave  had  be- 
gun our  descent,  a  man  was  looking  down 
from  the  plateau.  We  were  so  protected  that 
he  could  not  see  us,  for,  besides  being  among 
the  trees,  we  were  in  comparative  shadow, 
while  the  man  above  stood  out  boldly  in  the 
light.  He  did  not  look  like  a  guerrilla,  but  we 
hurried  on. 

Discovering  a  great  advantage  in  Jack's 
signals,  I  called  in  the  flankers  and  the  rear- 
guard, and  arranged  with  them  that  Jack  was 
to  travel  with  me  as  trumpeter.  The  hoot  of 
an  owl  would  mean  "hide";  a  woodpecker's 
rapping,  "rally  on  the  centre";  the  notes  of  a 
thrush,  "  take  a  back  track  ";  a  hen's  cackling, 
"  push  forward  in  haste."  These  signals  be- 
ing perfectly  understood,  we  opened  again,  and 
advanced  like  a  central  sun  and  satellites. 

We  had  made  the  principal  part  of  the  de- 
scent, when,  coming  to  a  convenient  spot,  I 
ordered  a  halt  for  rest,  feeling  a  confidence 
that  I  had  not  felt  since  my  abduction — a  con- 
fidence I  should  not  have  yielded  to,  for  we 
were  yet  far  from  safety.  The  place  of  our 
halt  was  a  delightful  angle  in  the  stream  Ave 


BUCK  S    INDISCKETION  199 

Avere  following.  Jack  strolled  away  in  search 
of  wild  flowers,  and  was  soon  joined  by  Cap- 
tain Beaumont,  whose  infatuation  prevented 
him  from  thinkin"'  of  auo;ht  else,  even  our 
common  danger.  Buck  stretched  himself  un- 
der a  short  mountain  oak,  clasped  his  hands 
under  his  head,  threw  one  leg  over  the  bent 
knee  of  the  other,  and  looked  straight  up  into 
the  branches.  Helen  and  I  were  thus  left 
alone.  We  sat  down  on  the  bank  of  the  creek 
in  view  of  the  bubbling  stream.  Takino;  a 
slender  stick  in  her  hand,  Helen  began  to 
thrash  the  Avater.  I  saw  that  she  was  trou- 
bled, and  I  knew  the  cause.  The  barrier  be- 
tween us,  which  in  a  moment  of  intense  excite- 
ment had  faded  out  of  sight,  now  loomed  up 
again  as  ominously  as  ever.  "We  sat  without 
speaking.  Jack  and  the  captain  were  chatting 
briskly,  every  now  and  again  speaking  loud 
enough  for  us  to  hear  some  word  that  told  of 
the  captain's  enthralment.  The  silence  be- 
tween Helen  and  myself  grew  painful ;  I  could 
say  nothing  to  break  the  spell.  I  could  but 
mutely  express  what  I  felt.  Beaching  out,  I 
took  her  hand  and  drew  her  to  me. 

A  shot ! 

Looking  upward  to  the  plateau,  I   saw   a 


300  SWEET   EEVENOE 

horseman  (lashing  off  to  the  spur  north  of  us, 
whose  ridge  led  to  the  level  ground  we  were 
approaching.  It  was  plain  that  we  had  been 
discovered,  that  the  shot  was  a  signal,  and  the 
horseman  was  going  to  head  us  off. 

The  trouble  had  all  come  from  Buck.  I 
have  no  doubt  we  should  have  given  the  guer- 
rillas the  slip  had  it  not  been  for  his  folly. 
There  are  certain  idiosyncrasies  in  boys  that 
are  as  natural  to  them  as  for  a  duck  to  swim 
or  a  robin  to  ^y.  Unfortunately,  at  a  critical 
moment,  Buck  encountered  an  incident  that 
called  out  one  of  these  idiosyncrasies.  Gazing 
into  the  branches  of  the  tree  under  which  he 
lay,  he  espied  a  bird's-nest.  Unluckily  he  no- 
ticed that  a  rock  which  admitted  of  a  gradual 
ascent  stood  directly  under  the  tree.  Climb- 
ing the  rock,  he  made  his  way  among  the 
branches,  and,  leaning  far  out  where  the  briglit 
sun  could  sliine  directly  on  him,  grasped  for 
the  treasure.  Our  enemy,  who  was  at  the 
time  watching  from  the  plateau,  discovered 
him. 

Calling  the  party  together,  I  gave  the  order 
to  push  forward ;  not  that  there  seemed  to  be 
any  object  in  doing  so,  for  we  must  expect  to 
meet  our  pursuers ;  but.  we  could  not  go  back, 


BUCK  S    INDISCRETION  201 

and  could  not  stay  where  we  were.  Besides, 
motion  would  tend  to  pull  together  the  facul- 
ties of  the  party,  every  one  of  whom  was  ap- 
palled at  this  relapse  into  the  frightful  dan- 
gers they  had  so  long  endured ;  though  Captain 
Beaumont  showed  only  irritation  at  having  his 
tete-a-tete  with  Jack  interrupted. 

We  had  not  gone  far  before  we  struck  a  path 
running  parallel  with  the  creek,  Avhich  led  us 
to  a  hamlet  on  a  road  leading  north  and 
south.  There  were  but  half  a  dozen  houses 
in  the  place,  including  a  small  country  store 
and  a  blacksmith-shop.  Before  entering  the 
town  we  consulted  as  to  w^hat  w^e  should 
do. 

"  Get  horses,"  I  proposed,  "  if  there  is  time." 

"  Or  a  horse  and  wagon,"  said  Helen. 

"  I  reckon  we  better  hide,"  was  Buck's  prop- 
osition. 

"•  Let's  get  clothes,"  suggested  Jack,  "  and 
dress  up  like  village  people." 

I  looked  at  Helen.  Jack's  proposition  ap- 
peared to  strike  her  with  the  same  force  it 
struck  me.  Of  all  things  the  guerrillas  would 
expect  us  to  do,  disguising  ourselves  and  going 
about  the  town  as  if  we  belonged  there  would 
be  the  last. 


202  SWEET    REVENGE 

"  Done !''  I  said,  as  we  entered  the  place. 
"  Scatter.  Tell  the  people  the  guerrillas  are 
after  us,  and  they'll  help  us.  We'll  have  from 
ten  to  fifteen  minutes  to  prepare." 


XX 
A  MASQUERADE 

What  became  of  the  others  I  did  not  at- 
tempt to  discover.  I  made  straight  for  the 
blacksmith-shop  and  found  a  smith  at  his 
forge. 

"  My  good  man,"  I  said,  *'  I'm  followed  by 
guerrillas.  They'll  be  in  the  town  in  a  few 
minutes.  Can't  you  give  me  your  clothes  and 
let  me  take  your  place  at  the  forge  ?" 

He  stood,  with  his  hand  on  the  handle  of 
the  bellows  looking  at  me,  while  what  I  said 
was  slowly  making  its  way  through  his  skull. 

"  Weel  noo,"  he  said,  at  last. 

"  Scotch— I  knew  it.  I'll  be  taken  before  I 
can  make  him  understand."  Then  to  him : 
"Do  you  want  to  save  me  from  death  by 
guerrillas  ?" 

"  Certain,  mon." 

"  Then  take  off  that  apron  and  give  it  to  me 
at  once.     Xot  a  moment  to  lose." 


204  SWEET    REVENGE 

At  this  juncture  the  desperate  position  I 
was  in  entered  his  brain,  and  he  worked  quick- 
ly enough  once  he  reahzed  what  was  wanted.  I 
saw  a  woollen  shirt,  well  begrimed,  hanging  on 
a  nail,  and,  seizing  it,  put  it  on.  Then  I  took 
the  smith's  apron,  rolled  up  my  sleeves,  smeared 
my  arms  with  cinders,  and  looked  into  a  bit 
of  broken  mirror  resting  against  the  wooden 
wall  to  observe  the  effect.  I  was  disappointed 
to  see  that  my  face  belied  my  calling. 

"  Your  razor !"  I  exclaimed  to  the  black- 
smith. 

He  went  through  a  door  leading  from  the 
shop  to  his  dwelling  and  returned  with  a  ra- 
zor, soap,  and  hot  water.  In  five  minutes  I 
had  shorn  my  beard,  leaving  a  dark  stubble, 
then,  seizing  a  handful  of  coke,  rubbed  out 
every  refined  lineament.  Taking  another  look 
at  myself  I  was  pleased  to  see  that  my  own 
mother  would  not  know  me.  Seizing  the 
handle  of  the  bellows,  I  began  to  blow  vigor- 
ously. 

'"  Weel,  weel,"  laughed  the  blacksmith,  "ye 
mak'  a  better-lo'ken  smith  than  geentlemon." 

"  Play  your  own  part  well,"  I  replied,  "and 
I  have  something  nice  for  you  at  the  end  of 
the  performance." 


A   MASQUERADE  205 

It  was  fully  fifteen  minutes  after  we  reached 
the  hamlet  before  there  were  any  signs  of  the 
guerrillas,  and  then  three  or  four  rode  into 
the  town  and  asked  for  our  party.  Had  they 
seen  us  ?  "Which  way  had  we  gone  ?  and  other 
questions,  which  the  few  people  they  met  re- 
sponded to  with  a  grunt  or  a  shake  of  the 
head.  I  put  ray  head  out  to  see,  and.  recog- 
nizing one  of  them,  drew  back  and  began  to 
blow  my  bellows  as  if  my  life  depended  on  it. 
And  it  did.  Presently  one  of  the  outlaws  rode 
up  to  the  shop. 

"Hello,  thar!"  he  shouted. 

"  "Wall,"  I  replied,  still  blowing  and  keeping 
my  face  turned  from  him. 

"Seen  a  man,  two  women,  a  bo}^,  'n'  a  nig- 
ger go  through  the  town  ?" 

"  Hain't  seen  no  one." 

"  Sho'  V 

"  Sho'  nuff." 

He  rode  off,  but  I  knew  the  storm  had  not 
yet  blown  over.  I  went  on  working  the  bel- 
lows, and  it  was  well  I  did  so,  for  presently 
more  of  tlie  band  rode  into  town,  and  one  of 
the  horses  having  lost  a  shoe,  its  rider  dis- 
mounted in  front  of  the  shop  and  told  me  to 
put  it  on. 


206  SWEET   KEVENGE 

This  was  something  I  had  not  counted  on. 
I  knew  no  more  about  horseshoeing  than 
about  knitting,  but  I  put  a  bold  face  on  the 
matter  and  went  to  work. 

"  What  the you  doen'  ?"  yelled  the  man. 

"  Air  y'  goen"'  ter  put  that  shoe  on  with  nary 
trimmen'  V 

"Don't  y'  s'pose  I  know  my  business?"  I 
cried,  bristling.     "  I  was  only  fitten'  it." 

With  that  I  seized  a  knife  and  began  to  cut. 
But  I  was  too  excited  to  pare  the  hoof  even  if 
I  had  been  an  expert,  and  in  another  moment 
the  man  yelled  again,  "  Ef  yo'  cut  that  critter's 
hoof  off  I'll  brain  yo\" 

"  Here,  Sand}^"  I  cried  to  the  blacksmith 
within,  "come  shoe  this  man's  critter;  he 
thinks  he  knows  more  'n  I  do  about  shoe'n'." 

The  blacksmith  finished  the  job  while  I,  pre- 
tending to  be  greatly  irritated,  was  glad  to 
escape  into  his  dwelling-house.  Going  to  a 
front  window  and  dropping  a  curtain  so  that 
I  could  look  into  the  road  without  being  seen, 
I  took  a  view  of  the  situation.  The  guerrillas 
were  scattered  about  the  town,  some  riding 
around  the  houses  hunting  for  us,  others  sit- 
ting on  their  horses,  questioning  the  inhabi- 
tants as  to  our  whereabouts.    Captain  Ringold 


A   MASQUERADE  207 

was  in  command.  A  negro  boy  was  playing 
"hop-scotch"  on  the  sidewalk.  The  captain 
called  to  him : 

"  Yo'  boy  thar!  Didn't  yo'  see  anybod}^  go 
this  way  a  while  ago  ?" 

"  Two  women  'n'  a  boy  'bout  's  big  's  me  ?" 

"Yes." 

"  'N'  a  white  man  'n'  a  colored  man  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  which  way  did  they  go  ?" 

"Dey's  gwine  right  'long  dar;"  and  he 
pointed  to  a  path  leading  across  the  road 
westward. 

"  Here,  you,"  cried  the  captain  to  two  men 
who  were  watering  their  horses  at  a  wooden 
trough  in  front  of  the  shop,  "  strike  out  on 
that  path." 

The  men  darted  away,  leaving  the  captain 
alone  in  the  road.  A  little  old  woman  came 
out  of  a  house  opposite  and  began  to  guy  him 
in  a  cracked  voice,  poking  fun  at  him  for  not 
being  able  to  catch  a  party  of  women.  She 
talked  so  familiarly  with  him  that  I  besfan  to 
suspect  she  knew  him.  I  trembled  for  fear 
she  would  betray  us. 

"  You  uns  ain't  wo'th  a  persimmon,"  she 
said ;  "  with  them  critters'  legs  under  yer,  y' 
orter  ketch  wimmen  folks  easy." 


208  SWEET    REVENGE 

"We'll  catch  'em  easy  enough;  they've 
gone  along  thar,"  pointing  to  the  path  his 
men  were  just  dashing  into. 

"  Th'  didn't  go  that  a-way." 

"  They  didn't  ?     Which  way  did  they  go  ?" 

"  D'  y'  s'pose  I  give  fac's  fo'  nothen'  ?" 

A  cold  chill  ran  down  my  back  ;  she  was 
going  to  tell  for  pay. 

"  What  do  yo'  want  ?" 

"  Gimme  'nuff  fo'  a  caliker  dress  'n*  I'll  put 
yer  on  th'  right  track." 

"  Sho'  ?" 

"Sart'in." 

"This '11  git  it  as  easy."  He  drew  a  re- 
volver and  put  it  to  her  face.  She  drew  back. 
But  this  man,  who  was  above  his  calling,  never 
could  persist  in  ill-treating  a  woman,  and,  low- 
ering his  weapon,  he  put  his  hand  in  his  pocket 
and  pulled  out  a  bill. 

"  That's  the  stuff  ter  git  fac's  with,"  said  the 
woman.  "  Now  you  uns  git  right  'long  thar," 
and  she  pointed  up  the  road  northward. 

"  That  won't  do,''  said  the  captain ;  "  we  just 
came  from  up  thar." 

There  was  a  pause,  at  the  end  of  which  I 
heard  the  woman  sav,  in  a  low  tone : 

"Captain!" 


A   MASQUERADE  209 

The  voice  was  familiar.  I  saw  the  man 
start,  then  exclaim,  "  Great  God  !" 

The  old  woman  Avent  over  to  him,  and,  tak- 
ing hold  of  his  bridle-rein,  began  to  whisper  to 
him  earnestly.  Presently  I  heard  the  captain 
say : 

"  I  can't  do  it." 

There  was  more  whispering,  and  b}^  the  wom- 
an's attitude  I  knew  she  was  pleading.  Was 
she  pleading  for  us?  If  so,  who  could  this 
good  friend  be  to  take  so  much  interest  in  us  ? 

"  I'd  do  't  fo'  yo'  and  yo'  friend,  but  not  the 
other  one." 

She  fumbled  with  the  rein,  she  stroked  his 
horse's  neck,  she  laid  her  hand  on  his,  all  the 
while  talking  earnestly  and  looking  up  into  his 
eyes,  I  fancied  beseechingly,  though  I  could 
not  see  her  face,  for  her  back  was  towards 
me,  while  the  man's  head  was  drooping  lower 
and  lower.  Her  bonnet  fell  back  on  her  neck, 
and  I  knew  the  old  woman  was  Jaqueline. 

"Can  yo'  refuse  when  /  ask  it?"  she  said, 
loud  enough  for  me  to  hear. 

The  man  was  silent.  The  struggle  within 
him  was  plain  in  every  line  of  his  face.  At 
last  he  said : 

"  Fo'  yo'  sake,  little  one,  I'll  do  it." 


210  SWEET    REVENGE 

She  took  his  rough  brown  hand  in  her  little 
white  one  and  bent  her  head  down  upon  it ; 
then  looking  up  through  tears :  "  I  can  give 
yo'  only  a  trifle  in  reward,  captain  dear ;  kiss 
me." 

Bending  from  his  saddle,  he  reverently 
touched  his  lips  to  her  forehead. 

Lost  in  wonder  at  the  strange  sight,  I  was 
nevertheless  congratulating  myself  that  she 
had  secured  the  man's  promise  to  draw  off  liis 
force,  when  the  whole  advantage  was  spoiled 
through  the  insane  jealousy  of  Captain  Beau- 
mont. It  seems  that  the  captain  had  dis- 
dained to  hide  Avith  the  rest ;  indeed,  he  had 
no  occasion  to  hide.  The  guerrillas  did  not 
know  that  he  was  with  our  party,  and  he  was 
in  no  more  danger  from  them  than  any  other 
man  would  be.  He  had,  however,  yielded  to 
Jack's  persuasion  to  go  into  a  house  and  keep 
out  of  sight.  When  the  guerrillas  rode  into 
town  he  was  sitting  by  a  window  sipping  a 
glass  of  Tennessee  whiskey,  and  at  the  moment 
Ringold  imprinted  the  kiss  on  Jack's  forehead, 
as  ill-luck  would  have  it,  he  happened  to  look 
out  of  the  window.  In  another  moment  he  was 
in  the  road,  discharging  his  revolver  at  the  guer- 
rilla, who,  drawing  his  own  weapon,  returned 


A   MASQUERADE  311 

the  fire.  A  fusillade  followed,  Ringold  re- 
ceiving a  wound  that  put  him  hors  de  combat. 
Swaying  in  his  saddle,  he  fell  fainting  to  the 
ground. 

Jaqueline  turned  upon  Beaumont  like  a  fury. 
I  have  seen  little  Jaclv  in  many  a  towering 
passion,  but  never  anything  like  this.  Her 
face  was  livid,  her  eyes  flaming.  She  tried  to 
speak,  but  her  ire  choked  her.  At  last,  one 
word  expressive  of  her  pent-up  feelings  came 
out  like  a  pistol-shot : 

"Pier!" 

Having  thus  relieved  herself  to  Captain 
Beaumont,  she  turned  to  the  prostrate  Rin- 
gold, knelt  beside  him,  crooning  over  him  as 
if  he  had  been  dearer  to  her  than  all  the  world 
beside. 

At  this  moment  a  guerrilhi,  who  had  doubt- 
less been  attracted  by  the  firing,  dashed  down 
the  road.  Beaumont  caught  sight  of  him  just 
as  Jack  had  hurled  her  opprobrious  epithet. 
With  an  expression  indicating  that  he  would 
prefer  death  to  another  such  word  from  the  girl 
v.dio  had  enthralled  him,  he  started  to  meet  tlie 
invader.  Shots  were  exchanged,  and  the  guer- 
rilla fell  from  the  saddle.  He  was  followed 
by  another  who  shared  the  same  fate,  while  a 


212  SWEET    KEVENGE 

third,  perhaps  fancying  that  he  had  struck  a 
troop  of  Confederate  soldiers,  turned  and  fled. 
All  this  happened  so  quickly  that  no  one  but 
Beaumont  and  tiie  three  bandits  had  an  op- 
portunity to  take  a  hand  in  the  fight.  When 
there  were  no  more  guerrillas  for  the  captain 
to  kill,  he  went  shyly  back  to  Jack,  Avho  had  wit- 
nessed his  feat,  looking  like  a  school-boy  who 
had  done  penance  for  a  fault  and  wanted  for- 
giveness.    But  Jack  turned  her  back  on  him. 

When  the  firing  began,  with  one  bound,  dis- 
guised and  begrimed  as  I  was,  I  cleared  my 
window.  When  Ringold  fell  I  was  joined  by 
the  other  members  of  our  ])arty  from  the 
houses.  Buck  had  blackened  himself  for  a 
negro,  and  it  was  he  who  had  answered  Bin- 
gold's  questions.  Helen  and  Ginger  had  hid- 
den without  disguise.  The  peo])le  of  the  town, 
one  man  and  eight  women,  besides  children, 
rushed  into  the  road.  I  knew  well  that  the 
absence  of  the  guerrillas  Avas  but  temporar}^ — 
that  they  would  soon  come  down  on  us  in  a 
body. 

"We  have  no  time  to  lose,"  I  cried.  "We 
must  get  aw^ay  at  once." 

"Where?" 

"Anywhere." 


A   MASQUERADE  213 

Turning  to  the  townspeople,  I  asked  if  they 
could  furnish  a  conveyance. 

"I've  a  horse  and  wagon  in  ray  shed,"  said 
the  smith. 

"  Out  with  it,  quick  !" 

Every  one  of  us  took  a  hand  in  harnessing 
the  team,  and  in  three  minutes,  by  the  clock, 
we  had  finished.  Then  we  all  tumbled  in  ex- 
cept Jack,  who  declared  she  would  never  leave 
her  friend  Captain  Ringold.  There  was  no 
time  to  bandy  words,  so  I  took  her  up  and 
tossed  her  into  the  wagon,  where  she  fell  in 
a  heap.  Rising  on  her  knees,  she  shook  her 
clinched  fist  at  me,  and  cried  to  the  wounded 
guerrilla  that  she  would  come  back  to  him  as 
soon  as  she  could  get  away.  Meanwhile  the 
blacksmith  was  driving  us  down  the  road,  be- 
laboring his  horse  with  the  stump  of  an  old 
whip. 


XXI 

A    STERN -CHASE 

A  STRAIGHT  road  lay  before  us  to  Decherd,  a 
few  miles  distant.  The  place  was  of  too  great 
importance  for  the  guerrillas  to  dare  enter, 
and  if  we  could  reach  it  before  they  could 
catch  us  we  should  be  safe. 

"  How  much  is  3'our  horse  worth  ?"  I  asked 
the  blacksmith. 

"  A  matter  o'  saxt}'^  dullars." 

"  If  you  kill  him  b}^  hard  driving  I'll  give 
you  a  hundred,  and  if  you  get  us  to  Decherd 
before  the  outlaws  can  catch  us  I'll  make  it  a 
hundred  more." 

"Weel,  noo,  I  don't  want  to  be  hard  on  a 
mon  flyen  for  his  life,  and  wimmen  folk,  too  ; 
I'll  do  the  best  I  can,  and  ask  no  money." 

With  that  he  belabored  the  poor  horse's 
flanks  with  the  stump  of  his  whip,  and  sent 
him  galloping  onward.  There  were  no  springs 
to  the  wagon,  but  we  valued  our  lives  too  well 


A    STERN-CHASE  215 

to  draw  rein  at  rut  or  stone.  At  one  part  of 
the  road  I  feared  that  if  we  did  not  check  our 
pace  we  would  break  a  wheel,  and  be  left  with 
no  means  to  get  on,  save  our  legs.  I  cautioned 
the  driver  to  slacken  his  pace,  but  hearing,  or 
fancying  he  heard,  the  clattering  of  horses' 
hoofs  behind,  without  a  word  from  me  he  ap- 
plied the  lash.  Now  we  bounded  into  the  air, 
and  now  we  were  tossed  together  like  dice  in 
a  box. 

"  Git  'oop,  ye  critter !"  cried  the  blacksmith, 
mingling  Scotch  and  Tennessee.  "Don't  ye 
know  ye're  draggen'  bonny  leddies  fly  en'  for 
their  lives?"  and  down  came  the  butt  of  the 
whip.  It  was  harrowing  to  see  a  horse  forced 
to  o^ive  his  life  to  save  ours :  but  our  situation 
was  too  critical  to  warrant  any  slackening  of 
speed.  Jack,  who  of  all  our  force  was  usually 
most  frightened  at  danger  ahead,  and  would 
fight  it  most  vigorously  when  face  to  face 
with  it,  for  once  acted  in  reverse  at  seeing  the 
poor  brute  making  leaps  that  were  killing  him. 

"  Stop  beating  that  horse,  you  brute,"  she 
cried,  "  or  I'll  beat  you,"  and  she  sprang  for- 
ward to  seize  the  whip.  I  caught  her  in  my 
arms.  She  looked  up  into  my  face,  and  burst 
into  tears.     Whether  it  was  wholly  sympathy 


216  SWEET    REVENGE 

or  overstrained  nerves  I  did  not  know — proba- 
bly both.  At  any  rate,  I  protected  her  from 
the  jolting  by  keeping  her  in  my  arms,  wliile 
she  hid  her  face  so  that  she  could  not  see  the 
suffering  horse. 

"  Jack,"  said  Buck,  "  you're  nothing  but  a 
baby.'' 

"  Shut  up,  yo'  little  nigger !"  she  cried. 

I  could  not  repress  a  smile  at  the  retort,  see- 
ing which.  Jack  realized  the  absurdity  of  it 
all,  and  broke  into  a  laugh,  while  the  tears  con- 
tinued to  run  down  her  cheeks, 

"  AYon't  yo'  let  me  support  yo'  against  the 
jolting?"  asked  Captain  Beaumont,  ruefully. 

"  Yo'  ?  Do  yo'  suppose  I'd  let  you  touch  me? 
Yo'  shot  my  best  friend." 

''Do  yo'  dislike  me  fo'  shooting — a  robber?" 
asked  her  admirer,  sadly. 

"I  hateyo'." 

Beaumont  settled  down  in  a  corner  of  the 
wagon  in  despondency.  After  a  while  Jaclc 
slid  down  beside  him,  Avhereupon  he  suddenly 
lighted  up  and  took  as  much  interest  in  our 
flight  as  any  one  of  the  party. 

We  were  a  wild-looking  load  to  the  few  peo- 
ple who  passed  us,  "Whenever  we  saw  a  farm- 
wagon  coming  or  going  we  would  shout  to  its 


A   STEKN-CHASE  217 

driver  to  get  out  of  the  way.  They  must  have 
supposed  our  horse  to  be  a  runaway,  for  every 
one  quickly  turned  aside.  There  are  pictures 
of  that  ride  which  I  can  see  to-day,  so  vividly 
were  they  stamped  on  my  memory.  An  old 
man  with  his  hands  on  the  handle  of  his  plough 
gaped  through  iron-rimmed  spectacles  ;  a  wom- 
an in  a  check  gown  and  sunbonnet  stopped  trim- 
ming plants  in  her  garden,  and  stood,  with  the 
shears  in  her  hand,  to  gape  at  us,  as  if  Ave  Avere 
a  party  of  witches  who  had  lit  on  the  earth 
from  the  moon,  and  were  making  ready  to 
take  to  the  sky  again.  Negroes,  children, 
country  lads  faced  the  road  as  Ave  passed,  and 
stood  Avonder-stricken  till  we  were  out  of  sioht. 

Coming  to  a  rise  in  the  ground  where  Ave 
could  look  to  our  rear  for  perhaps  a  mile,  we 
were  terror-stricken  to  see  a  man  shoot  around 
a  bend  in  the  road  at  a  gallop.  In  a  moment 
another  followed.  We  could  not  see  if  there 
Avere  any  more,  for  we  passed  oA^er  the  summit. 
Not  far  beloAv  a  mile-stone  told  us  that  it  Avas 
one  mile  to  Decherd. 

"  One  mile  to  their  two.  Can  Ave  not  do  it, 
driver  r'  I  asked,  quickly. 

The  only  answer  Avas  another  "  Git  oop," 
and  renewed  hammering  on  the  horse's  rump. 


218  SWEET   KEVENGE 

The  eyes  of  all  were  strained  to  the  rear, 
watching  to  see  just  Avhat  chance  there  was, 
from  time  to  time,  between  life  and  death, 
while  I  examined  the  carbines,  which  we  had 
taken  care  to  bring  with  us,  to  discov^er  if  they 
were  in  good  condition.  At  every  rise  we 
could  see  either  one  or  more  men  coming  like 
the  wind.  They  had  evidently  caught  sight  of 
us,  and  were  straining  every  nerve  to  catch  us 
before  we  reached  Decherd.  I  told  the  black- 
smith to  lay  it  on  hard,  well  know^ing  that  be- 
tween us  and  our  pursuers  was  only  the  life  of 
his  horse.  He  was  raising  his  whip  when  the 
horse  stumbled  and  fell,  pitching  most  of  us 
out  of  the  wagon,  fortunately  on  soft  ground. 
Getting  up  and  running  to  the  prostrate  ani- 
mal I  found  him  stone-dead. 

We  were  still  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
town,  and  the  guerrillas  would  be  on  us  in  a 
jiffy.  Calling  to  the  others  to  help,  I  turned 
the  wagon  across  the  road  and  directed  all  to 
take  position  behind  it.  Distributing  the  guns, 
we  waited  the  coming  of  the  advance  of  our 
enemies.  Three  men,  pretty  near  together, 
catching  sight  of  us,  drew  rein  and  waited  for 
their  comrades.  Others  soon  came  up,  and  I 
counted  seven  men  preparing  to  charge  us.     I 


A    STERN-CHASE  219 

was  about  to  give  an  order  as  to  the  firing 
when  I  heard  an  exclamation  from  Ginger: 

"Bressde  Lawd!" 

Turning,  I  saw  a  troop  of  cavalry  carrying 
the  Stars  and  Stripes  riding  leisurely  from  the 
town.  I  fired  a  shot  to  attract  their  attention. 
Suddenly  they  seemed  to  take  in  the  situation; 
I  heard  the  sharp  word  of  command,  and  saw 
them  coming  at  a  gallop.  Glancing  at  the 
guerrillas,  I  saw  them  vanishing  in  the  dis- 
tance. 

"  Saved !"  I  cried. 

"  De  bressed  Lawd  be  t'anked !"  shouted 
Ginger. 

"Gol  darn  it,"  said  Buck,  "ef  I'd  'a'  had  a 
shot  I'd  'a'  plunked  one  of  "em." 

"  By  Jove,"  remarked  Beaumont,  staring  at 
the  approaching  troopers, "  I'm  a  prisoner !" 

There  was  a  puff  of  smoke  among  the  re- 
treating guerrillas,  the  crack  of  a  carbine,  and 
Jack  fell  into  Helen's  arms. 

Never  was  the  pleasure  of  hard-earned  suc- 
cess more  cruelly  dashed  at  the  moment  of 
triumph.  We  had  fought  these  fiends  off  for 
days ;  we  had  escaped  from  them  to  a  covet- 
ed protection,  and  now,  at  the  last  moment, 
they  had  struck  us  severely.     Jaqueline  lay  on 


220  SWEET   REVENGE 

the  grass,  her  head  and  shoulders  resting  on 
Helen's  arm,  who  stanched  the  blood  which 
flowed  from  a  wound  in  her  side.  I  bent  over 
her  with  a  groan.  Captain  Beaumont  for  a 
moment  seemed  fired  to  chase  the  man  who 
had  shot  her,  then  joined  those  about  the 
wounded  girl,  muttering  imprecations  on  the 
guerrillas,  and  incoherently  begging  us  to  save 
his  little  Jaqueline. 

"  A  surgeon !"  I  cried  to  the  troopers,  who 
were  sitting  on  their  horses  looking  on. 
"Some  one  go  for  a  surgeon." 

"Ride  quick!''  said  the  captain  in  command, 
turning  to  the  man  nearest  him,  "and  bring 
a  doctor  and  a  conveyance  from  the  town. 
Then  to  an  officer  :  "  Lieutenant,  follow  those 
men,  and  don't  come  back  till  you  have  capt- 
ured every  one  of  them.  Take  twent}''  men 
with  the  best  horses.  With  fresh  mounts  you 
can  run  them  all  down." 

A  man  dashed  off  towards  the  town  and 
twenty  more  after  the  retreating  guerrillas. 
Jack  lay  with  her  head  on  Helen's  shoulder, 
her  eyes  closed,  her  face  white  as  a  cloth,  we 
all  about  her,  dreading  every  moment  that  the 
life-blood  would  run  out.  Presently  she  opened 
her  e^'es,  looked  about  her,  then  fainted  away. 


A    STEEN-CHASE  221 

"  Oh,  ray  God !"  cried  Beaumont,  "  she's 
gone." 

"  Keep  off,"  cried  Helen,  "  and  give  her  air." 

"  Jack,"  cried  Buck,  terrified  at  her  ghastly 
appearance,  "  wake  up  !" 

I,  with  a  soldier's  knowledge  of  the  thirst  of 
a  wounded  person,  dashed  away  in  a  hunt  for 
water.  I  found  a  well  in  a  yard  on  the  out- 
skirts of  the  town,  and  drawing  the  staple  to 
the  chain  that  held  a  tin  cup,  brought  a  plenti- 
ful supply.  Helen  was  still  supporting  her 
cousin.  Buck  w^as  striding  about  nervously, 
■with  his  hands  thrust  down  into  his  pockets, 
while  Captain  Beaumont  was  kneeling,  his  eyes 
peering  into  Jack's  as  though  by  his  gaze  he 
would  hold  the  life  that  he  dreaded  was  ebb- 
ing away.  I  sprinkled  water  in  her  face,  and 
she  opened  her  eyes,  looking  about  her  as  if 
unable  to  understand  her  surroundino^s. 

CD 

"What's  the  matter?" 

Curiousl}'"  enough,  the  words  were  the  same 
as  those  I  had  first  heard  her  utter  when, 
wounded,  I  reclined  on  a  sofa  at  her  home. 

"  You're  hurt.  Jack,"  said  Helen. 

"Am  I  going  to  die  V 

"  Oh  no,  dear,  I  hope  not." 

"  Don't  die,"  said  Beaumont,  in  a  broken 


222  SWEET   KEVENGE 

voice.  "Don't  leave  me;  I  couldn't  bear 
it." 

She  looked  up  into  his  face  sadly.  "  I  have 
been  a  bad  girl  to  you,  captain.     Forgive  me." 

"Forgive  you?  I  love  even  your  harsh 
words." 

"  Oh,  Helen,"  she  said,  "  I  hope  I  Avon't 
die." 

"  You  won't,  surely,  Jack." 

"  Because  if  I  do,  I  can't  dance  any  mo'  fo' 
the  colored  people.  Who'll  look  out  fo'  'em, 
Helen?  Papa's  away,  and  no  one  else  cares 
fo'  'em  as  he  and  I  do." 

"  They'll  have  you  with  them  for  many  a 
year.  Jack." 

An  open  wagon  appeared  in  the  road  and 
drove  up  beside  us.  A  doctor  with  a  satch- 
el in  his  hand  got  down  and  approaclied 
Jaqueline.  Making  a  hasty  examination  of 
the  wound,  he  bandaged  it,  then  told  us  to  lift 
her  into  the  vehicle.  The  seats,  except  the 
front  one,  had  been  removed,  and  their  cush- 
ions placed  on  the  bottom.  Some  of  the 
cavalrymen  tossed  in  their  blankets,  and  I 
smoothed  them  over  the  cushions,  making  a 
comparatively  comfortable  bed.  We  placed 
little  Jack  upon  it;  Helen  got  in  with  her,  and 


A    STERN-CHASE  223 

the  rest  of  us  walking  beside,  the  cavalry  act- 
ing: as  escort,  we  bore  her  to  the  town  and 
lodged  her  in  a  room  in  the  main  hotel  of  the 
place. 

We  found  the  town  agog  with  news  of  the 
first  day's  battle  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  and 
I  knew  that  my  general  would  hold  himself 
ready  to  co-operate.  I  determined  to  join  my 
command  at  once.  Having  been  assured  that 
Jack's  wound  would  not  prove  fatal,  I  ar- 
ranged for  the  transportation  of  the  party  as 
soon  as  she  could  be  moved,  then  gathered  my 
little  force  in  her  room  and  announced  my 
intended  departure. 

"^  I  must  now  bid  farewell,"  I  said,  "  to  my 
little  armv,  every  one  of  whom  has  become 
dearer  to  me  than  life." 

"Like  General  George  Washington,"  said 
Buck,  "sayin'  farewell  to  his  ossifers.  There 
is  a  picture  of  it  in  my  American  school  his- 
tory." 

"  Good-bye,  Buck  ;  remember  to  get  a  book 
and  pencil  and  break  yourself  of  the  habit  of 
saying  bad  words." 

"  I  will,  by  thunder !" 

"  Good-bye,  little  girl,"  I  said  to  Jack,  bend- 
ing down  and  kissing  her  on  the  forehead. 


234  SWEET    REVENGE 

"  Where  3^0'  going  ?" 

"  I  ?     Oh,  Tm  going  away." 

Helen's  eves  were  gleaming.  "  Where  are 
you  going  ?"  she  asked,  repeating  Jack's  ques- 
tion, though  in  a  different  tone. 

I  had  managed  to  keep  my  connection  with 
the  Union  Army  thus  far  a  secret.  Now  I 
knew  there  was  no  need  to  keep  it  longer. 

"  To  the  Federal  Army,  where  I  belong." 

The  mute  agony  on  Helen's  face  told  what 
my  disclosure  had  cost  her.  Extending  my 
arms,  I  cried  one  word  :  "  Sweetheart !" 

"Renegade!"  she  hissed. 

"  Helen — dear  lov^e — hear  me." 

She  turned  her  back  upon  me  and  swept 
out  of  the  roora^ 

"  /  like  yo',  ef  3^0'  are  a  Yankee,"  Jack 
cried  after  me. 

I  left  the  hotel,  my  brain  in  a  tumult. 
Coming  up  the  road  was  a  little  knot  of 
troopers  surrounding  the  guerrillas  whom 
they  had  run  down  and  captured.  A  few 
hours  ago  I  would  have  cried  out  with  de- 
light. Now  they  were  no  more  to  me  than  if 
I  saw  them  in  a  dream. 


XXII 
HUNTING   BIG    GAME 

It  was  the  morning  of  the  11th  of  April, 
1862.  I  was  nearing  the  spot  I  occupied  at 
the  opening  of  my  story,  where  the  bush- 
whacker had  sought  to  kill  me ;  though  then 
I  was  alone,  while  now  I  was  with  an  ad- 
vancing army.  Five  hundred  cavalry,  a  di- 
vision of  infantr}',  and  several  batteries  of 
artillerv  were  hurrying  down  the  road  tow- 
ards the  beautiful  city  of  Huntsville,  hnng, 
tranquil  and  unsuspecting,  a  few  miles  below. 
The  upper  edge  of  the  sun  was  peering  above 
the  horizon,  gilding  the  crest  of  the  foot-hills 
of  the  plateau  on  tiie  east,  the  tree-tops,  and 
the  roofs  of  the  neighboring  houses.  The 
flowers,  which  a  fortnight  before  were  open- 
ing, were  now  in  full  bloom.  They  looked 
innocently  from  the  gardens  beside  the  road ; 
they  leaned  lovingly  against  the  pillars  of  the 
verandas ;  from  vines  trailing  over  casements 


226  SWEET   KEVENGE 

they  smiled  at  the  rising  sun;  while  the 
breath  of  morning  was  laden  with  their  per- 
fume. 

It  was  the  general's  purpose  to  surprise  the 
cit}^,  capture  the  railroad  machine-shops  and 
the  rolling-stock  concentrated  there,  then  make 
up  trains  laden  with  troops,  seize  a  hundred 
miles  of  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad 
on  either  hand,  thus  opening  communication 
with  the  army  at  Pittsburg  Landing  on  the 
west,  and  paving  the  w^ay  for  future  operations 
in  East  Tennessee  on  the  east.  The  enemy 
must  not  be  given  time  to  move  troops  to  pro- 
tect the  city,  for  even  should  we  defeat  them, 
they  would  destroy  the  shops,  and  run  off  the 
rolling-stock.  All  depended  on  celerity  and 
secrecy. 

The  evening  before  we  had  bivouacked  ten 
miles  north  of  the  city.  Our  scouts  permitted 
no  one  to  go  south  of  us,  enfolding  all  they 
met,  in  order  that  no  news  of  our  approach 
could  reach  the  place  we  hoped  to  surprise. 
Two  hours  before  dawn  the  command  was 
aroused  —  not  by  the  life  or  the  bugle,  but 
by  whispering  officers  —  and  the  march  was 
resumed  with  no  sound  save  the  tread  of 
men  and  horses  and  the  rumble  of  artillery. 


HUNTING    BIG    GAME  327 

Within  a  fe^Y  miles  of  the  city  detachments 
of  mounted  men,  armed  with  telegraph -cut- 
ting and  track-tearing  implements,  dashed  to 
the  left  and  to  the  right,  to  prevent  the  enemy 
from  sending  for  troops  or  running  off  the 
rolling-stock.  To  another  detachment  which 
rode  among  the  advance  columns  was  assigned 
the  duty  of  seizing  the  telegraph-office. 

Boom ! 

Hark!  a  gun!  It  comes  from  the  eastward, 
not  half  a  mile  distant,  where  the  railroad  runs 
parallel  with  the  pike.  Artillery  is  driving 
back  a  locomotive.  The  iron  monster  shrieks 
like  some  wild  beast  that  has  met  its  death- 
wound. 

Boom ! 

More  whistles  all  along  the  track,  far  down 
to  the  south,  varying  in  distinctness  from  a 
near,  loud  cry  to  a  distant,  faint  moan.  This  is 
fine  hunting — stalking  locomotives  with  can- 
non. Did  any  South  African  sportsman  ever 
strike  such  game,  or  hunt  with  such  guns  ? 

Boom !  boom  !  boom !  Far  and  near  the 
shotted  guns  speak — far  and  near  the  metal 
monsters  cry  out  in  terror. 

Boom ! 

All  are  bagged,  except  one  more  daring  than 


238  SWEET    REVENGE 

the  rest,  which  runs  the  gantlet  of  artillery, 
and  with  a  round  shot  flying  through  its  cab 
speeds  out  of  range. 

Meanwhile  sashes  in  the  houses  along  the 
road  are  being  raised,  shutters  flung  open,  and 
heads  put  out  to  learn  the  cause  of  the  com- 
motion. As  guns  boom,  whistles  shriek,  and 
cavalry  clatter  along  the  road,  followed  by 
men  rapidly  marching  and  artillery  horses 
briskly  dragging  the  guns,  many  a  citizen,  Avho 
the  night  before  had  gone  to  sleep  not  dream- 
ing of  a  foe,  looks  upon  the  passing  armed 
throng,  listens  to  the  sound  of  the  cannon 
and  the  shrieks  of  the  engines,  and  wonders  if 
pandemonium  has  come. 

I  am  drawing  near  the  Stanforths'.  There 
is  the  house,  with  its  broad  verandas  and  its 
peak  roof.  A  knot  of  people  are  at  the  front 
gate,  but  I  am  yet  too  far  to  see  who  they 
are.  Now  I  can  distinguish  the  turbaned  Lib. 
There  is  a  boy  perched  on  one  of  the  gate- 
posts. It  is  Buck.  That  girl,  tall  and  slender, 
is  surely  Helen.  As  I  draw  nearer  I  can  see 
Gino^er,  his  broad  mouth  stretched  in  a  crin  of 
pleasure  at  sight  of  Yankee  troops.  A  figure  is 
sitting  in  a  wicker  chair  on  the  veranda — dark 
eyes  flashing  in  a  pale  face.     It  is  Jaqueline. 


HUNTING    BIG    GAME  229 

Riding  np  to  the  gate,  I  am  out  of  my  sad- 
dle almost  before  my  horse  has  stopped.  Buck 
gives  a  cry,  and  jumps  into  my  arms.  Ginger 
grasps  m}''  hand. 

"By  jingo!  Mr.  Brandystone,"  cried  Buck, 
"  I'm  mighty  glad  to  see  you.  Since  I  got 
back  after  fightin'  g'rillas  like — ■" 

"Mars',  't's  good  fo'  de  e^^es  t'  see  yo\"  in- 
terrupted Ginger,  enthusiastically. 

"After  fio-btin'  (j'rillas  like  a  man — " 

"  What !  Mr.  Branderstane,  and  in  the  uni- 
form of  a  Federal  officer !" 

It  was  Mr.  Stanforth.  He  looked  at  me 
surprised — tlien  put  out  his  hand.  But  I  al- 
ways suspected  the  old  man  to  be  at  heart  a 
Unionist. 

Buck  kept  on.  "  After  fightin'  g'rillas  like 
a  man,  I  come  back^" 

"  Upon  my  word !'' 

Another  of  the  family  was  expressing  sur- 
prise to  see  a  former  guest  with  the  Union 
troops.  Mrs.  Stanforth  looked  pained,  but  she 
had  nursed  me  when  I  was  suffering,  and  her 
motherly  feelings  got  the  better  of  her  preju- 
dices. I  took  her  hand,  and  she  did  not  with- 
draw it. 

"  I  say,  Mr.  Brandystone,"  Buck  now  fairly 


330  SWEET   REVENGE 

shouted, "  after  fightin'  g'rillas  like  a  man,  I 
come  back  liyar  to  be  follered  roun'  by  that 
dogTOne  old  Lib !" 

It  was  out  at  last,  and  the  boy  looked  re- 
lieved. I  broke  away,  and,  advancing  towards 
Helen,  put  out  my  hand. 

She  turned  away  from  me  with  contempt. 

Fortunately  at  that  moment  I  espied  little 
Ethel  looking  at  me  wistfully,  and,  taking 
her  up,  hid  my  face  and  my  anguish  in  her 
tresses.  Then  looking  up  I  saw  that  Jack  was 
waiting  for  me,  and,  going  upon  the  veranda,  I 
took  both  her  hands  in  mine. 

"  Yo're  the  only  Yankee  in  the  world  I  want 
to  see,"  she  said,  enthusiasticall3^ 

"  Golly !"  cried  Buck  behind  me.  Turning, 
I  saw  what  had  surprised  him — the  guerrillas 
riding  by  as  prisoners.  They  had  been  con- 
ducted to  Shelby  ville  by  the  company  of  cav- 
alry which  had  captured  them,  and  were  now 
a  part  of  the  procession  of  men  and  horses 
hurrying  by.  Captain  Ilingold  looked  up  at 
us  with  a  melancholy  stare.  He  cauo-]it  sio-lit 
of  Jack,  and  T  shall  remember  to  ni}^  dying 
day  the  sad  look  in  his  eyes  as  they  rested  for 
a  moment  upon  hers. 

The  advancing  army  moved  rapidly  on,  and 


HUNTING    BIG    GAME  231 

was  soon  a  mingled  mass  of  guns  and  horses 
in  the  distance.  The  sun  -  touched  bayonets 
and  flags  flashed  for  an  instant,  then  were  lost 
in  a  turn  in  the  road.  The  region  which  had 
so  suddenly  been  enlivened  relapsed  into  the 
quiet  of  the  country. 

Jaqueline  begged  me  to  go  into  the  house. 
I  declined.  Mr.  Stanforth  added  his  invita- 
tion. 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Stanforth,  but  I  must  re- 
join my  regiment  at  once.  This  is  no  time  for 
me  to  be  absent." 

"  You  shall  come  in  long  enough  to  drink 
one  glass  of  wine  to  show  that  you  are  our 
friend."  I  saw  that  he  would  be  not  only 
hurt,  but,  Avith  his  strong  Southern  impulse, 
angered  if  I  refused,  and  I  reluctantly  con- 
sented to  spare  a  few  minutes  to  pledge  my 
former  host. 

I  entered  the  house  supporting  Jack,  and  was 
turning  into  the  librar}",  where  I  had  passed 
my  time  while  wounded,  when  Jack  guided 
me  into  the  parlor  opposite.  Helen  left  us 
and  went  into  the  library.  Lib  came  in  bear- 
ing a  decanter  and  glasses.  I  drank  to  the 
host  and  the  assembled  company,  promising 
that  during  the  occupation  by  the  Union  forces 


233  SWEET    REVENGE 

I  would  use  m}^  influence  to  gain  tliem  every 
favor  and  protection.  I  had  drained  my  glass 
and,  setting  it  down,  was  about  to  go  out  to 
mount  my  horse  when  Helen  came  out  of  the 
library  and  crossed  the  hall,  hand  in  hand 
with  an  officer  in  Confederate  uniform.  His 
forehead  was  bound  with  a  handkerchief,  he 
walked  with  difficulty,  and  I  judged  had  been 
severely  wounded.  Jack  sprang  forward  and 
seized  the  other  hand. 

"  Major  Branderstane,"  said  Helen,  "  my 
brother." 

Great  God  I     Before  me  stood — m}'^  enemy! 

As  at  night  by  a  flash  of  lightning  one  may 
see  for  an  instant  a  landscape  distinct  in  all 
its  details,  so  I  saw  again  the  events  of  the 
night  of  the  massacre.  There  were  the  flash- 
ing shot-guns,  the  soldiers  coming  down  the 
hill,  a  fio-ure  with  garments  streamino'  in  the 
wind  running  to  me  for  protection.  And  now 
before  me  stood  the  man  with  the  smoking 
pistol.  Involuntarily  I  put  my  hand  to  my  re- 
volver. 

"  I  am  your  prisoner,  sir,"  he  said,  quickly ; 
"  you  do  not  need  your  weapon." 

Helen's  eyes  flashed.  "  Would  3'ou  shpot  an 
unarmed  man  f ' 


HUNTING    BIG    GAME  233 

Jack,  mute  with  terror,  staggered  to  the 
gray  clad  figure  and  clung  to  it,  her  expres- 
sive eyes  bent  on  me,  a  mingled  flame  of  re- 
proach and  wrath. 

M}^  hand  rested  on  ray  holster.  I  moved 
not — spoke  not — but  stood  staring  at  the  group 
that  stared  at  me.  This  man,  whom  I  had 
been  hunting  to  kill,  whom  Helen  had  stimu- 
lated me  to  pursue,  against  whom  she  had 
even  voluntarily  pledged  herself  to  aid  me  in 
my  revenge,  had  now  suddeidy  appeared  as  her 
brother, 

"  I  was  wounded,"  said  the  officer,  "  at  Fort 
Donaldson,  and  was  brought  here  to  my  fa- 
ther's house.  I  am  unable  to  endure  the  fa- 
tigue of  flight,  therefore  I  am  compelled  to 
surrender." 

"Captain  Stanforth,  I  have  been  hunting 
for  you  for  months." 

"  Me  ?" 

"  You." 

"  What  for  ?" 

A  hush  came  over  all  as  if  about  to  listen  to 
a  sentence  of  death. 

"  To  kill  you." 

There  was  a  brief  murmur  among  those 
looking  on,  then  they  stood  breathless,  wait- 


234  SWEET   liEVENGE 

ing  for  the  next  scene  in  what  promised  to  be 
a  tragedy.  Only  Helen  knew  what  my  words 
meant.  I  saw  a  spasmodic  quiver  pass  over 
her  as  I  had  seen  death  touch  a  comrade  who 
had  been  shot  in  battle.  Then,  gathering  her 
forces,  she  stood  still,  her  face  denoting  the 
smothered  fires  of  a  volcano. 

"  May  I  ask,  sir,"  said  the  officer,  pale  but 
calm,  "  why  you  desire  m}^  death  ?" 

"  The  wrong,  the  brutal  wrong  you  did." 

I  know  not  wh}^  some  demon  of  barbarism 
should  have  come  to  me  at  this  critical  moment 
when,  of  all  others,  I  should  have  shown  o-en- 
tleness  and  mngnanimit3\  Here  was  an  op])or- 
tunity  to  make  a  graceful  acknowledgment  of 
Helen  Stanforth's  service  and  sacrifice,  per- 
haps to  heal  the  breach  between  us.  I  threw 
it  away.  My  abandoned  purpose  was  rekin- 
dled :  I  was  crazed  by  Helen's  treatment.  I 
drew  my  revolver  and  brought  it  to  bear  on 
my  unarmed  enemy. 

"Coward!"  cried  Helen. 

I  turned  to  her  scornfully.  "  Who  bade  me 
pursue  this  man  to  the  bitter  end  V 

U  T  •>■> 

"  AVho  promised  to  aid  me  V 

U  T   55 


HUNTING    BIG   GAME  235 

"  Who  now  begs  for  her  brother's  life  at  the 
hands  of  a  Southern  renegade?'^ 

"  I  ?  Never."  She  sprang  l)etween  me  and 
her  brother — "  Fire  !" 

She  stood  glaring  at  me,  beautiful  in  her 
uncompromising  fury.  I  Avas  bewildered,  en- 
tangled in  the  meshes  of  her  beauty,  her  re- 
lentless will  power.  Then  suddenly  a  cold 
chill  swept  over  me,  as  a  blighting  frost  across 
a  land  hot  Avith  the  rays  of  a  tropical  sun.  I 
stood  aghast  at  what  I  had  done.  I  had  re- 
turned her  inestimable  service  by  a  miserable 
attempt  to  force  her  to  beg  for  her  brother's 
life.  I  had  lost  what  hope  I  had  cherished  of 
a  reconciliation — of  winning  her.  I  threw  m}^ 
weapon  into  a  corner  and  was  striding  from 
the  room,  when  Captain  Stanforth,  freeing 
himself  from  Jack,  cried  : 

"In  the  name  of  God,  what  does  all  this 
mean  ?" 

"  It  means.  Captain  Stanforth,"  I  said,  turn- 
ing, "that  on  a  certain  night  in  East  Tennes- 
see a  party  of  Unionists  on  their  way  north 
were  ambushed  by  citizens  with  shot-guns.  A 
body  of  Confederate  cavalry  came  down  to 
their  assistance.     You,  Captain — " 

"It  is   false.     I  led   my  company   to   the 


236  SWEET    REVENGE 

scene  you  mention — not  to  attack,  but  to  pro- 
tect." 

It  was  now  ni}^  turn  to  stand  stupefied. 
Had  I  been  all  these  months  following  an 
error  ? 

"  I  came  on  the  ground,"  Captain  Stan- 
forth  continued,  "just  in  time  to  witness  the 
most  diabolical  sight  I  ever  saw  in  the  South. 
One  incident  of  that  terrible  night  I  shall  al- 
ways remember — a  murder  that  I  punished  with 
my  own  hand.  I  saw  a  woman  fl3'ing  for  protec- 
tion to  a  man  who  stood  near  her.  A  cowardly 
cur  beside  me  fired,  and  she  fell  through  her 
protectors  arms.  I  drew  my  revolver  and 
shot  the  murderer  dead." 

"  You  shot  the  murderer  ?" 

I  had  no  tongue  for  other  words.  This  man, 
dear  to  Helen,  dear  to  Jack,  dear  to  all  this 
household,  was  not  only  innocent  of  the  crime 
I  had  imputed  to  him,  but  was  my  avenger.  I 
took  one  step  forward  and  seized  his  hand. 

"  Thank  God !" 

"You  have  been  mistaken?" 

"  So  far  mistaken  that  had  it  not  been  for 
these  two  women  I  would  have  shot  you  down 
where  you  stand." 

I  strode  to  the  door,  rushed  down  the  path 


HUNTING    BIG    GAME  237 

to  the  gate,  mounted  my  horse,  and,  Avithout 
once  looking-  back  at  the  gaping  crowd  behind 
me,  galloped  down  the  road  after  the  advanc- 
ing army. 


XXIII 
THE    UNION    SAVED 

I  CAUGHT  the  troops  just  as  they  were  enter- 
ing the  city.  All  that  we  could  have  wished 
for  was  accomplished.  The  whole  territory- 
was  surprised  and  defenceless,  and  a  hundred 
miles  of  railroad  fell  into  our  hands.  Machine- 
shops,  rolling- -stock  in  abundance,  telegraph, 
and  all  other  paraphernalia  for  operating  the 
line  were  among  the  trophies,  and  on  the  morn- 
ing after  the  capture  the  men  who  had  been 
employed  under  the  direction  of  the  Confeder- 
ate government  went  to  work  for  the  United 
States. 

And  now  followed  a  rest  for  three  months, 
a  longer  stay  in  one  place  than  any  I  experi- 
enced during  the  w^ar.  It  would  have  been  the 
most  delightful  had  it  not  been  for  my  es- 
trano-ement  from  Helen  Stanforth.  Thoufjh 
I  was  welcome  at  her  father's  house,  though 
the  family  apparently  became  attached  to  me, 


THE    UNION    SAVED  239 

thouoh  Jack  and  Buck  loved  me  as  I  loved 
them,  Helen  remained  obdurate.  In  vain  I 
sought  to  soften  her  by  those  attentions  with 
which  men  seek  to  entrap  a  woman's  heart. 
She  would  not  even  treat  me  with  indifference. 
I  was  to  her  a  renegade  to  the  South,  an  un- 
pardonable offender. 

I  reported  the  case  of  Captain  Stanforth  to 
the  general,  and  secured  from  him  a  parole, 
which  enabled  him  to  divide  his  time  between 
his  father's  house  and  the  Rutland  plantation 
with  his  fiancee  Jaqueline,  who  soon  nursed 
him  back  to  health.  Captain  Beaumont  was 
brought  to  Huntsviile  under  guard,  and  I 
interested  myself  in  securing  for  him  an  early 
exchange,  which,  after  hearing  of  Jack's  en- 
gagement, he  was  extremely  anxious  to  obtain. 
He  was  passed  through  the  lines  to  Chatta- 
nooga, vowino^  that  he  would  give  his  life  to 
the  Confederacy  if  he  could  find  a  Yankee 
bullet  to  assist  him.  He  was  too  manly  and 
chivalrous  to  cast  the  slightest  blame  on  Jack 
for  his  disappointment. 

One  morning  I  took  my  friends  from  Mr. 
Stanforth's  —  excepting  Helen  —  into  head- 
quarters and  introduced  them  to  the  general. 
He  was  aware  of  our  coming,  and  had  directed 


240  SWEET    REVENGE 

that  the  outlaws  should  be  brought  before  him 
at  the  same  time. 

"  Are  these  the  men  ?"  he  asked. 

"  Yes,  general,"  I  replied. 

To  the  officer  of  the  guard,  he  said,  "  Take 
them  away.  I  clonH  wish  to  see  any  more  of 
iJiemr 

Jaqueline,  who  had  heard  these  words  once 
before  when  the}''  were  applied  to  me,  and 
consequently  knew  what  they  meant,  turned 
pale.  She  begged  the  general  to  spare  them. 
He  shook  his  head. 

"  Impossible.  They  are  the  crowning  bar- 
barity of  war." 

"  But,  general,  that  one,"  pointing  to  Cap- 
tain Ringold — "he  helped  us." 

"  Ah !  I  had  forgotten  that."  Then  turn- 
ing to  Ringold : 

"  If  set  at  liberty,  how  long  will  you  require 
to  get  out  of  my  lines  V 

"  I  will  go  at  once." 

"  Go ;  and  if  you  are  seen  about  here  after 
'tattoo'  this  evening  you  will  follow  your 
men." 

The  reprieved  man  sprang  towards  Jaque- 
line, seized  her  hand,  and  kissed  it.  "  From 
this  moment  I  am  a  changed  man,"  he  said  to 


THE    UNION    SAVED  241 

her,  "and  your  bright  eyes  and  kind  heart 
have  done  it."  In  another  moment  he  was 
gone. 

Captain  Stanforth  was  soon  exchanged,  and 
before  leaving  to  join  his  regiment  was  united 
to  Jaqueline.  The  wedding  took  pkice  at  the 
Rutland  plantation.  The  groom  did  me  the 
honor  to  request  me  to  act  as  his  best  man, 
Jaqueline  doubtless  having  influenced  his 
choice.  I  gladly  accepted,  lioping  that,  since 
Helen  Avas  to  serve  as  first  bridesmaid,  our 
being  thrown  together  might  heal  the  breach 
between  us.  Ten  minutes  before  -the  cere- 
mony Jaqueline  was  strumming  Ginger  s  ban- 
jo, and  ten  minutes  after  she  had  become  a 
bride  was  standing  on  the  rear  gallery  tossing 
presents  to  a  crowd  of  blaclc  people  below, 
whose  upturned  faces  indicated  the  adoration 
in  which  they  held  their  3'oung  mistress. 

I  was  disappointed  in  my  hope  that  the 
festivities  would  thaw  the  obdurate  heart  of 
the  woman  I  loved.  She  remained  cold,  even 
when  her  hand  was  laid  on  my  arm  before  and 
after  the  ceremony.  Later,  finding  her  apart 
from  the  others,  I  approached  her. 

"  Have  you  not  one  kind  word  for  me  ?"  I 

asked. 

If) 


242  SWEET  kp:venge 

"  Not  one.  I  can  respect  a  Northern  sol- 
dier, not  a  Southern  man  who  wears  the 
blue." 

"  Be  it  as  you  wish." 

Mounting  my  horse,  I  rode  back  to  camp 
with  a  heavy  heart. 

The  advantages  gained  by  our  force  at  Shi- 
loh,  and  our  own  bloodless  conquest  of  North- 
ern Alabama,  were  not  vigorously  followed  up. 
The  enemy  withdrew  to  Tupelo,  Mississippi, 
where  he  formed  a  new  arm}^  which,  early  in 
the  fall,  marched,  under  the  Confederate  gen- 
eral Bragg,  through  Chattanooga  into  Ken- 
tucky. 

One  morning  in  September  orders  came 
for  us  to  break  camp  and  march  northward. 
Bragg  was  advancing,  marching  on  Cincinnati 
or  Louisville,  thus  compelling  the  abandonment 
of  the  territory  we  had  acquired  in  the  spring, 
and  requiring  us  to  hasten  to  the  protection  of 
the  threatened  cities.  After  making  my  prep- 
arations for  the  mov^e  I  left  the  command,  in- 
tending to  join  it  on  the  march,  and  rode  over 
to  the  Stanforths'  to  take  my  leave.  Jackson 
announced  me,  and  I  sat  down  in  the  little 
library  I  had  occupied  three  months  before, 
while  my  wound  was  healing,  to  await  the  ap- 


THE   UNION    SAVED  243 

pearance  of  my  friends.  I  was  startled  by  the 
voice  of  Buck  coming  from  above : 

"Lib,  doggone  't,  whar's  my  swearen'  book? 
I've  lost  that  'swearen'  book'  what  Major 
Brandystone  tole  me  to  git." 

A  few  minutes  later  he  came  into  the  room. 
As  he  caught  sight  of  me  his  face  became 
radiant,  and,  jumping  into  my  arms,  he  hugged 
me  like  a  young  bear.  Tlie  others  soon  entered. 
Mr.  Stanforth,  who  by  this  time  had  openly 
avowed  his  affection  for  the  Union,  parted  from 
me  witli  regret,  not  unmixed  with  apprehension 
lest  upon  the  return  of  the  Confederates  he 
might  suffer  for  his  attentions  to  our  troops. 
Mrs.  Stanforth  bade  me  adieu  with  motherly 
affection.  Little  Ethel  put  her  arms  about  ray 
neck  and  wondered.  Buck,  for  the  moment, 
in  his  affection  for  me,  forgot  that  he  was  a 
Confederate  sympathizer,  and  insisted  on  go- 
ing with  me.  Helen  stood  aloof,  and  at  the 
last  moment  seemed  more  bitter  than  ever. 
There  was  a  flush  upon  her  cheek  and  a  bright 
spark  in  her  e3'es. 

"  Good-bye,"  I  said,  putting  out  my  hand  to 
her. 

"  Never  to  an  enemy,"  she  replied,  turning 
awav. 


244  SWEET    EEVENGE 

There  was  a  murmur  of  disa}3probation  at 
lier  act,  but  I  did  not  listen  to  it.  Turning  on 
my  heel,  I  left  the  room  and  the  house,  and  in 
another  moment  was  galloping  away. 

My  regiment  was  moving  on  a  road  leading 
northward  and  to  the  east  of  the  main  pike, 
so  I  was  obliged  to  ride  across  country  to  re- 
join. Large  armies  necessarily  move  slowly, 
and  although  in  this  instance  we  had  entered 
upon  forced  marches  I  knew  that  I  had  plen- 
ty of  time.  I  was  riding  leisurely  through  a 
lonely  road  when  I  heard  the  sound  of  horse's 
hoofs  behind  me.  I  had  become  so  used  to  be- 
ing hunted  by  my  old  enemies  that  I  instinc- 
tively drew  rein  and  my  revolver  at  the  same 
time,  and,  facing  about,  awaited  the  coming  of 
friend  or  foe.  My  pursuer  turned  a  bend  in 
the  road  but  a  short  distance  from  me  and 
suddenly  came  in  sight. 

"  Helen  Stanforth !  What  in  the  Avorld 
brings  you  here  ?" 

She  drew  rein  and  sat  with  flushed  cheeks, 
her  eyes  looking  anywhere  except  on  me. 
Tier  horse  was  restive,  the  two  making  a  pict- 
ure by  no  means  quiescent. 

"  I  am  not  satisfied." 

"With  what?" 


THE    UNION    SAVED  245 

"  The  manner  of  your  leaving  the  country." 

"Do  I  take  with  me  what  does  not  belono- 
to  me  ?" 

"  You  are  going  with  our  enemies." 

I  was  puzzled.  She  knew  that  I  was  a 
Union  officer,  and  that  my  duty  lay  with  the 
departing  array.  Besides,  to  remain  in  the 
country  after  its  reoccupation  by  Confeder- 
ate troops  would  be  as  much  as  my  life  was 
worth.  I  was  more  than  puzzled,  I  was  irri- 
tated, smarting  as  I  was  under  her  recent 
treatment. 

'•  This  is  not  what  dissatisfies  you,"  I  said. 

"  I  spent  my  time  rescuing  a  renegade." 

"  I  see  no  occasion  for  you  to  come  after 
me  to  hurl  that  taunt  anew.  "We  parted  half 
an  hour  ago,  I  supposed  never  to  meet  again. 
Now  you  must  needs — " 

"Were  you  not  in  the  Yankee  service  our 
parting  need  not  be — " 

She  paused  and  bit  her  lip. 

I  had  often  noticed  a  great  show  of  picket- 
firing  on  the  part  of  an  enemy  just  before 
abandoning  his  lines.  Somehow  the  thought 
gave  me  an  inkling  of  what  was  passing  in 
Helen's  mind.  I  rode  up  close  beside  her,  and 
laying  my  hand  on  her  horse's  neck  stroked  it 


246  SWEET    KEVENGE 

for  a  moment  till  I  had  quieted  him.  Mean- 
while my  eyes  were  fixed  on  Helen's,  that 
were  glancing  about  wildly,  as  if  endeavoring 
to  find  some  means  of  retreat.  Bending  for- 
ward,  without  a  word,  I  put  my  arms  about 
her  and  drew  her  to  me.  Her  head  sank 
slowly,  at  last  resting  on  the  embroidered 
leaves  that  denoted  my  rank. 

"  Sweetheart,  I  love  you,  and  I  believe  you 
love  me." 

There  was  silence,  save  for  the  running 
water  of  the  creek  and  the  chattering  of  the 
birds  in  the  trees  beside  the  road.  The  touch- 
ing of  our  lips,  her  heart  beating  against  mine, 
stray  strands  of  her  hair  falling  over  my 
wrist,  the  moisture  in  her  eyes,  bring  a  new 
warmth  to  my  heart  even  to-day.  At  last  she 
suddenly  disengaged  herself  and,  as  though 
ashamed  of  her  snrrender,  turned  her  horse  to 
move  away.  I  caught  her  and  held  her  long 
enough  for  one  more  embrace,  one  long  part- 
ing kiss ;  then  I  let  her  go.  As  she  galloped 
down  the  road  I  called  after  her : 

"You  forgive  me  for  threatening  your 
brother — for  trying  to  compel  you  to  beg  for 
his  lifer 

"No." 


THE    UNION    SAVED  247 

"  I'll  come  when  the  Union  is  saved." 
"  When  the  Confederacy  is  acknowledged," 
and  she  shot  around  the  bend  out  of  sight. 

"I  believe,"  I  mused,  as  I  rode  on,  "  there  is 
no  inconsistency,  no  incongruity,  that  does  not 
enter  into  the  composition  of  woman." 

"We  met  again  a  3'ear  later,  shortly  before 
the  battle  of  Chickamauofa,  and  aofain  when 
Hood  was  marching  against  Thomas  at  Xash- 
ville,  but  it  was  not  till  after  the  surrender  at 
Appomattox  that  she  consented  to  a  union  that 
was  to  be  simultaneous  with  the  reunion  of 
the  States. 

One  important  fact  has  always  remained  a 
secret  between  me  and  my  wife.  1  have  never 
ventured  to  confess  to  her  that  during  the  war 
I  performed  one  act  of  secret  service.  In  over- 
hauling my  papers  she  one  day  came  upon  a 
document  gotten  up  in  red  and  black  ink  in 
the  form  common  in  the  army. 

"  What's  all  this  about  T  she  asked.  '' '  Gal- 
lant and  meritorious  services  in  the  capture  of 
Huntsville,  Decatur,  and  Stephenson  Junction.' 
I  thought  that  when  the  Yankees  surprised 
Huntsville  you  were  at  our  house." 

"That?"  I  said,  taking  the  paper  and  pre- 


248  SWEET   REVENGE 

tending  to  scrutinize  it — "oh,  that  was  for 
capturing  a  rebel." 

"  What  rebel  ?" 

I  hesitated,  then  prevaricated.  "  Don't  you 
remember  the  scene  in  which  your  brother 
bore  an  important  part  V 

"Do  you  mean  to  call  drawing  your  pistol 
on  an  unarmed  man  a  gallant  and  meritorious 
act  ?" 

"Oh,  they  complimented  everybod\^  for  ev- 
erything during  the  war.  But  I  deserved  the 
encomium,  for  I  captured  another  rebel  more 
rebellious  than  your  brother  " 

"Who  was  that?" 

I  put  my  arras  about  her  and  kissed  her. 

"My  sweetheart." 


THE    END 


By    captain    CHAKLES    KING. 


CAMPAIGNING    WITH    CEOOK,   AND    STORIES    OF 
ARMY   LIFE.     Post  8vo,  Clotb,  $1  25. 

A  WAR-TIME  WOOING.    Illustrated  by  R.  F.  Zogbaum. 

Post  8vo,  Cloth,  $1  00. 

BETWEEN  THE   LINES.     A  Story  of  the  War.     Illus- 
trated by  Gilbert  Gaul.     Post  8vo,  Cloth,  $1  25. 

CADET   DAYS.     A  Story  of  West  Point.     Illustrated. 
Post  Bvo,  Cloth,  Oruamental,  $1  25. 

Captain  King's  stories  of  army  life  are  so  brilliant  and  in- 
tense,  they  have  such  a  ring  of  true  experience,  and  liis  cliarac- 
ters  are  so  lifelike  and  vivid  that  the  announcement  of  a  new 
one  is  ahvays  received  with  pleasure. — Keio  Haven  Palladium. 

In  all  of  Captain  King's  stories  the  author  holds  to  lofty  ideals 
of  manhood  and  womanhood,  and  inculcates  the  lessons  of  honor, 
generosity,  courage,  and  self-control. — Literary  World,  Boston. 

A  romance  by  Captain  King  is  always  a  pleasure,  because  he 
has  so  complete  a  mastery  of  the  subjects  with  which  he  deals. 
.  .  .  Captain  King  has  few  livals  in  his  domain. — Epoch,  N.  Y. 

All  Captain  King's  stories  are  full  of  spirit  and  with  the  true 
ring  about  them. — Fhiladelphia  Item. 

In  the  delineation  of  war  scenes  Captain  King's  style  is  crisp 
and  vigorous,  inspiring  in  the  breast  of  the  reader  a  thrill  of 
genuine  patriotic  fervor. — Boston  Comijionwealth. 

Captain  Khig  is  almost  without  a  rival  in  the  field  he  has 
chosen.  .  .  .  His  style  is  at  once  vigorous  and  sentimental  in 
the  best  sense  of  that  word,  so  that  his  novels  are  pleasing  to 
young  men  as  well  as  young  women. — Pittsburgh  Bulletin. 

It  is  good  to  think  that  there  is  at  least  one  man  who  believes 
that  all  the  spirit  of  lomance  and  chivalry  has  not  yet  died  out 
of  the  world,  and  that  there  are  as  brave  and  honest  hearts  to- 
day as  there  were  in  the  days  of  knights  and  paladins. — Phila- 
delphia Record. 

Published  by  HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  New  York. 

^W°  1'l^e  abnve  loorks  nrn  for  sale  hi/  all  booksellers,  nr  vill  he  sent  hy 
the  pitblisbers,  postage  prepaid,  to  an;/  part  of  the  United  States, 
Canada,  or  Mexico,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 


By  ELIZABETH   B.  CUSTER 


Following  the  Guidon.     Illustrated.     Post  8vo,  Cloth, 

Ornamental,  §1  50. 

The  story  is  a  thrillingly  interesting  one,  charmingly  told.  .  .  . 
Mrs.  Custer  gives  slvetches  photographic  in  their  fidelity  to 
fact,  and  touches  them  with  tlie  brush  of  the  true  artist  just 
enough  to  give  them  coloring.  It  is  a  charming  volume,  and 
the  reader  who  begins  it  will  hardly  lay  it  down  until  it  is  fin- 
ished.— BoxionTraveUer. 

An  admirable  book.  Mrs.  Custer  was  almost  as  good  a 
soldier  as  her  gallant  husband,  and  her  book  bieathes  the  true 
martial  spirit. — St.  Louis  Republic. 

Boots  and  Saddles  ;  or,  Life  in  Dakota  with  General 

Custer.      With    Portrait   of    General  Custer.      12mo, 

Cloth,  Ornamental,  $1  50. 

A  book  of  adventure  is  interesting  reading,  especially  when 
it  is  all  true,  as  is  the  case  with  "Boots  and  Saddles."  .  .  .  Mrs. 
Custer  does  not  obtrude  the  fact  that  sunshine  and  solace  went 
with  her  to  tent  and  fort,  but  it  inheres  in  her  narrative  none 
the  less,  and  as  a  consequence  "  these  simple  annals  of  our 
daily  life,"  as  she  calls  them,  are  never  dull  nor  uninteresting. 
— Evangelist,  N.  Y. 

No  better  or  more  satisfactory  life  of  General  Custer  could 
have  been  written.  .  .  .  We  know  of  no  biographical  work 
anywhere  which  we  count  better  than  this. — .V.  Y.  Commercial 
Advertiser. 

Tenting  on  the  Plains;  or.  General  Custer  in  Kansas 
and  Texas.  Illustrated.  Post  8vo,  Cloth,  $1  50. 
Mrs.  Custer  was  a  keen  observer.  .  .  .  The  narrative  abounds 
ill  vivid  description,  in  exciting  incident,  and  gives  us  a  real- 
istic picture  of  adventurous  frontier  life.  This  new  edition  will 
be  welcomed. — Boston  Advertiser. 


Published  by  HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  New  York 

j8®"  The  above   irorlcs  are  for  sale   hij   all  booksellem.  or  will  be  sent  by 
the  publisUers,  postage  prepaid,  on  receipt  of  tlie  price. 


Br   THOMAS   HARDY 


Hardy  has  an  exquisite  vein  of  humor.  His  style  is  so  hicid 
that  the  outlines  of  a  character  in  one  of  his  books  are  unmis- 
takable from  first  to  last.  He  has  a  reserve  force,  so  to  speak, 
of  imagination,  of  invention,  which  keeps  the  interest  undim- 
inished always,  though  the  personages  in  the  drama  may  be 
few  and  their  adventures  unremarkable.  But  most  of  all  he 
lias  shown  the  pity  and  the  beauty  of  human  life,  most  of  all 
lie  has  enlarged  the  boundaries  of  sympathy  and  chaiitv. — 
iV.  Y.  Tribune. 


UXIFORM 
The  Well  Beloved. 

JuDE  THE  Obscure.     Illus- 
iviitecl. 

Under    the   Greenwood- 
Tree. 

Wessex  Tales. 

Desperate  Rejiediks. 

A  Laodicean. 

The  Hand  op  Ethelberta. 

The  Woodlandeus. 


EDITION : 

The  Trumpet-]Major. 

Far   from   the    ]Madding 

Crowd. 
The    jMayor    of    Casteu- 

BRIDGE. 

A  Pair  of  Blue  Eyes. 

Two  on  a  Tower. 

Return  of  the  Nath^e. 

Tess    op    the     D'Urber- 
villes.     Illustrated. 


Crown  8vo,  Cloth,  $1  50  each. 


Life's  Little  Ironies.  A  Set  of  Tales ;  with  some 
Colloquial  Sketches  eulitled  A  Few  Crusted  Characters. 
Post  8vo,  Cloth,  Oruamenlal,  f  1  25. 

A  Group  op  Noble  Dames.  Illustrated.  12mo,  Cloth, 
Oruameutal,  $1  25 ;  Post  8vo,  Paper,  75  cents. 

The  Woodl.\nders.     16mo,  Cloth,  75  cents. 

Fellow-Townsmen.     32mo,  Paper,  20  cents. 


ruBLisHED  BY  HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  New  York. 

Tlie  above  vnrhs  are  for  sale  hi/  all  boolcselUrs.  or  will  he  sent  hy  the, 
publishers,  postage  prepaid,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 


By  GEORGE  DU  MAURIER 


ENGLISH     SOCIETY.      Sketched     by    George    dd 
Maurier.     About  100  Illustrations.     With  sm  Intro- 
ductiou   by  W.   D.  Howells.     Oblong  4lo,  Cloth, 
Ornameutiil,  $3  50. 
A  volume  which  it  will  always  be  a  deli2;lit  to  have  in  the 
house.     In  it  a  searching  observer  of  many  phases  of  human- 
ity, cliarniing  in  its  wit  and  without  the  blemish  of  malice, 
presents  with  his  pencil  as  much  of  his  social  philosophy  as 
lie  could  give  with  his  pen  in  a  hundred  novels. — N.  Y.  Snn. 
As  to  tiie  drawings,  what  can  we  say  in  piaise  of  them  that 
has  not  l)een  said  time  and  again  ?     The  humor,  tlic  s^atire,  so 
effective  notwitlistanding  tlie  bght  touch,  are  all  iiere,  as  they 
are  in  everything  that  l)ii  Maurier  drew. —  Criiic,  N.  Y. 

TRILBY.     A  Novel.     Illustrated  by  the  Author.     Post 

8vo,  Cloth,  Ornamental,  $1  75  ;  Three-quarter  Calf, 

$3  50  ;  Three-quarter  Crushed  Levant,  $4  50. 

Mr.  Du  Maurier  has  written  his  tale  with  such  origitialily, 

uuconventionalitv,  and  eloquence,  such  rollicking  humor  and 

tender   pathos,  and    delightful  play  of  every  lively  fancy,  all 

running  so  briskly  in  exquisite  English,  and  with  such  vivid 

<lramatic   pictin'ing,  that  it   is    only   comparable  ...   to  the 

freshness   and  beauty  of  a  spring  morning  at  the  end  of  a 

dragging  winter.  ...  A  thoroughly  unique  story. — JV.  Y.  Sun. 

PETER   IBBETSON.     With   an   Introduction   by   his 

Cousin,  Lady  "  *  *  *  ("Madge   Plunket").     Edited 

and  Illustrated  by  George  du  Maurier.     Post  8vo, 

Clolh,  Ornamental,  $1  50;  Three-qiuirter  Calf,  $3  25; 

Three-quarter  Crushed  Levant,  $4  25. 

There  are  so  many  beauties,  so  many  singularities,  so  much 

that  is  fresh  and  original,  in  Mr.  Du  Maurier's  story  that  it  is 

difficult  to  treat  it  at  all  adequately  from  the  point  of  view  of 

criticism.     That  it  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  books  that 

have  appeared   for  a  long  time  is,  however,  indisputable. — 

N.  Y.  Tribune. 

Published  by  HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  New  York. 

J8@=  T/ie  above  works  are  for  sale  b)/  all  booksellers,  or  will  be  mailfd  by 
the  publishers,  postage  prepaid,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 


RARE  BOOK 
COLLECTION 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT 

CHAPEL  HILL 


Wilmer 
795 


1*4     1 


